Crucial Doha talks to begin today, Pakistan to seek written assurances from Taliban, FO says Pakistan exercise
Pakistani soldiers stand guard next to newly fenced border fence along the Afghan Paktika provincial border in Angoor Adda in South Waziristan. Photo: AFP)
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime agreed on Friday to extend their temporary ceasefire that took effect earlier this week after deadly border clashes, as both sides prepare for crucial talks in Doha on Saturday aimed at de-escalating tensions.
Officials confirmed to The Express Pakinomist that the agenda of the Doha meeting will revolve around a single point – ensuring that terrorist groups, especially the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), cannot use Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan.
Unlike the previous rounds, the officials said this time Pakistan wanted written assurances and a clear timeline envisioning “tangible and verifiable” steps against the TTP and its affiliates from the Kabul regime.
“Nothing less, nothing more,” remarked a source, adding that Pakistan had given diplomacy one more go at the request of friendly countries. Qatar plays the role of mediator between the two sides.
The ceasefire was only announced on Wednesday after days of fierce fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border left dozens dead on both sides. The clashes, centered around the Spin Boldak-Chaman and Torkham sectors, marked the most serious escalation between the two countries in recent years.
In his last official media briefing as a foreign ministry spokesman on Friday, Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan was “deeply concerned about the unwarranted aggression by the Afghan Taliban and affiliated terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil”.
He said Pakistan had exercised its right of self-defense by repulsing the attacks and inflicting heavy casualties on Taliban forces and associated terrorist elements, while ensuring that civilian lives were not targeted.
“At the request of the Taliban regime and by mutual consent, both sides decided to implement a temporary ceasefire,” the spokesman said. “During this period, a sincere effort is being made to find a positive solution through constructive dialogue.”
The spokesman stressed that Pakistan “values dialogue and diplomacy” but warned that Islamabad would take all possible measures to protect its territorial integrity and the lives of its people.
He also dismissed the recent statements made by the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister during his visit to India terming them baseless and an attempt to divert attention from the presence of terrorist elements in Afghanistan.
“The continued presence of terrorist elements on Afghan soil and the freedom of activity they enjoy is well documented, including in the reports of the UN monitoring team,” he added.
According to officials, the Doha talks will also test the Taliban’s willingness to act against TTP hideouts. “Pakistan expects concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist elements,” a senior official told The Express Pakinomist, adding that Islamabad has shared “credible evidence” of cross-border involvement through diplomatic channels.
The State Department also expressed strong reservations over the India-Afghanistan joint statement issued in New Delhi last week, calling the reference to Jammu and Kashmir as part of India “a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.”
Despite heightened tensions, Pakistan reiterated its desire for a peaceful, stable and regionally connected Afghanistan, while calling on the Taliban to fulfill commitments under the Doha process not to allow its territory to be used against any country.
The Doha meeting, expected to be attended by senior officials from both sides, is seen as a crucial opportunity to consolidate the fragile ceasefire and prevent another round of deadly border hostilities.
However, observers are skeptical of any major breakthrough given the Afghan Taliban’s past track record.
