ISLAMABAD/KABUL: Afghanistan and Pakistan were holding peace talks in Doha on Saturday, both sides said, after the South Asian neighbours extended a ceasefire following a week of fierce border clashes.
They are seeking to find a way forward after the clashes killed dozens and wounded hundreds in the worst violence between the two countries since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
Both countries held the first round of talks mediated by Qatar, diplomatic sources told ‘Geo News’ on Saturday.
They said the next round of Pak-Afghan talks — focusing on cross-border infiltration by militant groups based in Afghanistan — will be held in Doha today (Sunday) morning.
Pakistan told the Afghan delegation that the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan was “unacceptable”, the sources added.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a high-level delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was in Doha to hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban.
The foreign ministry said that the talks will primarily focus on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan” and on restoring “peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”
“Pakistan does not seek escalation, urges the Afghan Taliban authorities to honour their commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist entities, including the FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA,” the Foreign Office posted on X.
Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also confirmed the talks, saying: “As promised, negotiations with the Pakistani side will take place today [Saturday] in Doha,” adding that the Kabul team led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob had arrived in Doha.
It was not immediately clear how long the talks would last. Officials on both sides have said they could be extended from Saturday, adding senior intelligence officials from both countries were part of the talks.
The ground fighting between the one-time allies and Pakistani airstrikes across their contested 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier were triggered after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they operated from havens in Afghanistan. The Taliban denies giving haven to militants to attack Pakistan.
On Friday, a suicide attack near the border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13, security officials said.
The Afghan government spokesperson said Pakistan had conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan hours after the ceasefire, which began on Wednesday, was extended on Friday for as long as the talks continued. He said the attacks targeted civilians, adding that Kabul reserved the right to respond but that Afghan fighters had been directed to refrain from retaliating to respect the negotiating team.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed that Pakistan on Friday night conducted “precision strikes” on verified camps of the proscribed Gul Bahadur group in the border areas of North and South Waziristan districts.
“In these precision strikes, [a] minimum [of] 60-70 Kharjis [terrorists] and their leadership have been sent to hell based on confirmed intelligence reports,” the federal minister wrote on X.
The two neighbouring nations are witnessing heightened tensions amid the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups, operating from Afghanistan soil, in the backdrop of rising terror attacks in Pakistan.
The Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alias Fitna al-Khawarij, resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan on October 12.
Tarar noted that during the 48-hour ceasefire, militants affiliated with the Khawarij group and operating from Afghanistan attempted multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. He said all such attempts were effectively thwarted by the country’s security forces.
Meanwhile, he said, the security forces responded effectively, eliminating over 100 militants affiliated with the Khawarij group.
The information minister stated that militants from the ex-Gul Bahadur faction of the Khawarij group carried out a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack in North Waziristan. “The attack resulted in the martyrdom of a soldier and multiple civilians, while several others were injured,” he added.
According to security sources, Khariji Gul Bahadar Group has been involved in various terrorist activities inside Pakistan by infiltrating from Pak-Afghan border, including a foiled attack in North Waziristan on October 17 in which three women, two children and a soldier were martyred.
Those key Kharji leaders who were killed in strikes in Paktika strikes included Kharji Farman, Siddiqullah Dawar, Ghazi Madakhel, Kharji Muqarrab and Qismatullah.
Kharji Fazalur Rehman who was also eliminated in strikes was also a close relatives of Haji Gul Bahadur. Others killed in strikes included Kharji leader Gulab alias Deewana, Kharji Rehman, Kharji Adil, Kharji Ashiqullah alias Kausar and Kharji Younas.
“All these were key leaders of Haji Gul Bahadur Group and their killing is an important and big success,” the security sources said.
The sources also refuted allegations of civilian casualties as “baseless”, noting that they appear to be part of a deliberate effort to garner sympathy for terrorist groups operating from within Afghanistan.
Minister Tarar further said that Pakistan firmly believes the resolution to the complex challenge of Indian-sponsored terrorism originating from Afghan territory lies in “constructive dialogue and effective measures by Afghan authorities to control non-state actors.”
“However, Pakistan reserves the right to protect its territorial integrity and the lives of its citizens, and it will not permit terrorists operating from Afghan soil to act with impunity,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan have withdrawn from their Twenty20 international tri-series in Pakistan next month following the death of three local cricketers that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) said were due to military strikes in Paktika province.
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were due to meet in the tournament scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17-29. The ACB said in a statement that the three players travelled to Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, to play in a friendly match and later died during the strikes after returning home to the Urgun district.
“ The ACB considers this a great loss for Afghanistan’s sports community, its athletes, and the cricketing family,” the ACB said in a statement, mourning the deaths of the players and several others. “ In response to this tragic incident and as a gesture of respect to the victims, the ACB has decided to withdraw from participating in the upcoming tri-nation T20I series involving Pakistan, scheduled to be played in November.”
The International Cricket Council condemned the attack, saying it stands in solidarity with the ACB and echoes their grief. “The ICC is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who lost their lives in a recent airstrike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province,” the global governing body for cricket said in a statement.
“The ICC strongly condemns this act of violence that has robbed families, communities, and the cricketing world of three bright talents whose only ambition was to play the sport they loved.”
India’s cricket board said in a statement: “The BCCI stands in solidarity with the ACB, the cricket fraternity, and the families of the departed players during this moment of profound grief and condemns this ghastly and unwarranted attack.
“The loss of innocent lives, particularly those of promising sportspersons, is deeply distressing and a matter of great concern. The BCCI conveys its heartfelt sympathies to the people of Afghanistan and shares in their pain and loss.”
Meanwhile, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a post on ‘X’ that Pakistan had struck “verified” camps of militants along the border areas and rejected that the strikes had targeted civilians. He said militants had attempted to launch multiple attacks inside Pakistan during the ceasefire period.
He said more than 100 militants were killed by Pakistani security forces, the majority of them in strikes against a militant group that he said had carried out Friday’s suicide attack on the military camp. Reuters could not independently verify the militant death toll given or any targets.