TagAfghanistan-Pakistan Crisis Talks Begin in Doha Amid Border Violence

ISLAMABAD/KABUL/DOHA – Defence Ministers from Afghanistan and Pakistan are holding critical peace talks in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, seeking a path to de-escalation after a week of intense border clashes left dozens dead and wounded hundreds—the worst violence between the neighbours since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021.

The talks, mediated by Qatar, follow a temporary ceasefire that was extended after fierce ground fighting and cross-border Pakistani airstrikes along the contested 2,600 km (1,600-mile) frontier. The Afghan delegation is led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, while Pakistan’s team is headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

Key Agenda: Cross-Border TerrorismPakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed the meeting, stating that discussions will focus on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”Islamabad has demanded that Kabul restrain militants, who have significantly increased attacks inside Pakistan, operating from what it claims are safe havens in Afghanistan.

The Afghan government, however, denies sheltering militants to attack Pakistan. It instead accuses the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation and using the tension to undermine Afghanistan’s stability.On Saturday, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed the crisis, urging the Taliban regime to “rein in the proxies who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan and are using Afghan soil to perpetrate heinous attacks inside Pakistan.

” His statement followed a suicide attack near the border on Friday that killed seven Pakistani soldiers. Airstrikes Threaten Truce and TiesThe diplomatic path remains fraught with tension. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistan had conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan just hours after the ceasefire was extended on Friday.

He claimed the strikes targeted civilians and led to Afghanistan’s decision to withdraw from a planned Twenty20 international tri-series cricket tournament in Pakistan next month. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said the decision was made after three local cricketers were killed in military strikes in Paktika province, a great loss to the nation’s sports community.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar rejected the claims of targeting civilians, stating that Pakistan struck “verified” camps of Islamist militants and rejected the notion that the strikes had targeted civilians. He claimed more than 100 militants were killed in the counter-terrorism operations.Senior intelligence officials from both sides are participating in the Doha talks, which may be extended past Saturday as the one-time allies seek a definitive mechanism to halt the violence and restore peace along the border.