Pakistani, Afghan negotiators in Doha for peace talks after deadly clashes
Pakistan urged the Taliban to avoid escalation and take verifiable action against terrorist groups as promised to the international community
Aamir Abbasi
Editor, Islamabad
Aamir; a journalist with 15 years of experience, working in Newspaper, TV and Digital Media. Worked in Field, covered Big Legal Constitutional and Political Events in Pakistan since 2009 with Pakistan’s Top Media Organizations. Graduate of Quaid I Azam University Islamabad.
Pakistani soldiers near a security fence at the border post in Torkham, Pakistan, in December, 2020.
Reuters/File
A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, will hold crucial talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
The discussions, facilitated by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, aim to halt cross-border militant attacks originating from Afghan territory and restore stability along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.
The Doha meeting follows weeks of mounting tensions and some of the deadliest border clashes in years. Dozens were killed and hundreds wounded earlier this month, prompting both nations to agree on a temporary truce.
Officials familiar with the negotiations said the agenda includes extending that ceasefire and addressing Islamabad’s long-standing security concerns over the presence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office emphasized that Islamabad seeks “no escalation” but expects the Taliban authorities to “honor their commitments to the international community” by taking verifiable action against terrorist groups, including “the FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA”.
“Pakistan appreciates the mediation efforts of Qatar and hopes these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region,” the statement added.
The two neighbors extended the 48-hour ceasefire on Friday to cover the duration of the Doha talks, reflecting cautious optimism about de-escalation. The recent clashes - the most severe since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021 - erupted after Islamabad demanded that Kabul curb militants using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistani airstrikes and fierce ground fighting along their 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) frontier underscored how fragile the relationship between the once-close allies has become.
Qatar’s quiet mediation role
Qatar continues to play a central role in easing tensions between the two sides. Known for its sustained diplomatic engagement in Afghanistan - from hosting the Taliban’s political office in 2013 to brokering the landmark U.S.-Taliban talks in 2020–2021 - Doha has emerged as a trusted venue for crisis diplomacy in the region.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Qatar has maintained open channels with both Islamabad and Kabul, coordinating humanitarian support and facilitating dialogue in times of regional friction.
With additional input from Reuters
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