Khaberni - Afghanistan and Pakistan said they are conducting peace talks in Doha today, Saturday, after the two neighbors extended a ceasefire following a weeklong violent clashes at the border.
The two countries are seeking to end the clashes that killed dozens and injured hundreds in the worst violence between them since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021.
The spokesperson for the Afghan government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement, "As we promised, negotiations with the Pakistani side will take place today in Doha," adding that the Kabul delegation is led by Defense Minister Mohammed Yaqoob.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif will lead the talks with representatives of the Afghan government.
The statement added, "The talks will focus on taking immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan against Pakistan and restoring peace and stability along the Pakistani-Afghan border."
It is not yet clear when the talks will conclude. Officials from both sides said the talks could continue beyond today, adding that senior officials from the intelligence agencies of both countries are participating in them.
Violent ground battles erupted between the former allies and Pakistan conducted air raids across their disputed 2600-kilometer border after Islamabad demanded Kabul rein in militants who had escalated their attacks in Pakistan, saying they were carrying out their attacks from Afghanistan.
The Taliban government denies providing a haven for militants to attack Pakistan and accuses the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan and exacerbating tensions on the border and harboring militants.
Security officials said that a suicide attack near the Afghan border yesterday, Friday, killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others.
The Pakistani army chief, Asim Munir, said today, Saturday, in a speech during a graduation ceremony of army students, "The Afghan regime must rein in its agents who take refuge in Afghanistan and use Afghan territory to mount horrific attacks inside Pakistan."
The spokesperson for the Afghan government said that Pakistan conducted air strikes in Afghanistan hours after extending the ceasefire, which began on Wednesday.
He condemned the strikes, affirming that Kabul reserves the right to respond, but instructions were issued to Afghan fighters to refrain from responding to maintain the stature of their negotiating team.
The Afghan Cricket Board mentioned that the air strikes killed some local cricket players, announcing Kabul's withdrawal from a cricket tournament scheduled in Pakistan in November.
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a post on the X platform today that Pakistan targeted "confirmed" militant camps in border areas, denying that the strikes targeted civilians.
He added that the militants attempted several attacks inside Pakistan during the ceasefire period.
He confirmed that Pakistani security forces killed more than 100 militants, most of them in strikes targeting an armed group he said carried out the suicide attack on the army camp yesterday, Friday.
