Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to hold new peace talks in Qatar to set conditions for long-term stability. The talks aim to end a week of cross-border clashes that killed dozens. Both governments confirmed an immediate ceasefire after discussions with Qatari mediators in Doha, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced. Turkish negotiators also assisted in brokering the deal.
Truce Efforts and Escalating Conflict
The agreement ended days of deadly confrontations that left hundreds injured. Both sides pledged to create systems that strengthen peace and maintain the truce. Violence surged earlier this month as each nation accused the other of initiating attacks. Afghanistan rejected Pakistan’s claim that it shelters militants who strike border areas, a major concern for Islamabad. Pakistan has battled rising militancy along its western frontier since the Taliban regained control in 2021. The ongoing violence threatens regional stability as groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda attempt to regroup.
Airstrikes, Civilian Deaths, and Growing Tensions
Hours after a 48-hour ceasefire expired, Pakistan launched airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, targeting Hafiz Gul Bahadur militants. Islamabad said its forces eliminated several fighters without harming civilians. Officials stated the strikes answered a suicide bombing that hit a security compound in Mir Ali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the previous day. Taliban leaders claimed the raids killed at least ten civilians, including women, children, and cricket players near the strike zones. The Afghan cricket board responded by boycotting an upcoming event in Pakistan, while the International Cricket Council expressed grief over the athletes’ deaths.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned Pakistan’s actions as violations of Afghan sovereignty and deliberate provocations. Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, urged Afghan leaders to choose peace and curb militant proxies operating from their territory. High-level delegations from both countries continued talks in Doha to prevent further escalation. The two nations share the 2,600-kilometre Durand Line, a colonial-era boundary Afghanistan refuses to recognise. Kabul claims the 1893 border divides Pashtun tribes and instead upholds the 1947 demarcation, which disputes large sections of Pakistani territory and fuels ongoing clashes.
