Pakistan and Afghanistan to hold peace talks in Doha

Kabul and Islamabad will hold talks in the Qatari capital of Doha on Saturday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry has said.

The negotiations, which are being brokered by the Qatari government, come after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika border province that claimed five lives, including three cricket players.

“A high-level delegation from Pakistan, led by our Minister of Defense, will hold discussions with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry posted on X. “The talks 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.”

The ministry said Pakistan “does not seek escalation” but urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their commitments to the international community” and address Islamabad’s “legitimate security concerns” by taking verifiable action against terrorists in the border regions.

The Asian neighbors agreed to a temporary ceasefire on Wednesday and were invited by the Qatari government to negotiate a permanent truce and address mutual concerns.

Cross-border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have intensified in recent years as both sides have repeatedly accused each other of harboring militants.

The countries traded casualty claims after intense fighting last weekend. The Taliban said it had killed 58 Pakistani soldiers, while Islamabad claimed to have captured 19 Afghan border posts.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khwaja Asif, who is leading the talks in Doha, has accused the Afghan government of fighting a “proxy war” on India’s behalf.

On Thursday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi “remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.”

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