The Foreign Office has confirmed that a high-level delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif will hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today (Saturday).
The State Department said the talks will primarily focus on “immediate measures to stop cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan” and on restoring “peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”
The governments of Islamabad and Kabul on Friday extended a 48-hour ceasefire for the duration of the Doha talks as they try to resolve the clashes that killed dozens and wounded hundreds over the past week in the worst violence between the two South Asian nations since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
“Pakistan does not seek escalation, urges the Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their obligations to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable measures against terrorist entities, including FAK/TTP and FAH/BLA,” writes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X.
The ministry also appreciated Qatar’s mediation efforts and hopes that these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation was already in the Qatari capital for the talks with the Taliban regime, government sources said on Saturday.
Earlier, Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban government, had also confirmed that a high-level delegation from Afghanistan left for peace talks with Pakistan on Saturday in Doha.
“As promised, talks with the Pakistani side will take place today in Doha,” Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, adding that the Kabul team was led by Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob.
This is a developing story and will be updated with the latest information.
