Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks begin in Doha
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, ISI chief to lead talks with Afghan officials
Peace talks between Pakistan and Taliban have begun in Doha, 24NewsHD TV reported on Saturday.
According to the report, the talks began at 12:30pm local time and Qatari Intelligence chief Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khalifa is hosting the talks between the warring neighbours.
The Taliban side is led by the Taliban government's Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, while Taliban intelligence chief Maulvi Abdul Haq Wasiq is also part of the delegation.
Pakistan state TV said earlier today, "Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Asim Malik will be heading to Doha today for talks with Afghan Taliban."
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.
“Pakistan does not seek escalation but 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,” Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press statement.
Pakistan appreciated the mediation efforts of Qatar and hoped these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region, it was further added.
An Afghan Taliban government official also confirmed the talks would take place. "A high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate, led by Defence Minister Mohammed Yaqub, left for Doha today," Afghan Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on X.
According to 24News TV channel, both delegations have reached the Qatari capital Doha on Saturday afternoon.
A 48-hour truce paused nearly a week of bloody border clashes that claimed dozens of casualties.
In Pakistan, a senior security official told AFP that forces had "conducted precision aerial strikes" in Afghan border areas targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a local faction linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- the Pakistani Taliban.
Islamabad said that same group had been involved in a suicide bombing and gun attack at a military camp in the North Waziristan district that borders Afghanistan.
Security issues are at the heart of the tensions, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harbouring militant groups led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- the Pakistani Taliban -- on its soil.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif accused Kabul of acting as "a proxy of India" and "plotting" against Pakistan.
"From now on, demarches will no longer be framed as appeals for peace, and delegations will not be sent to Kabul," Asif wrote in a post on X.
"Wherever the source of terrorism is, it will have to pay a heavy price."