First round of Pak-Afghan talks on ‘cross-border terrorism’ concludes

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Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday concluded the first round of Qatar-mediated talks in Doha, which focused on curbing cross-border infiltration by militant groups operating from Afghan territory, diplomatic sources told GeoNews.

He said that the next round of Pak-Afghan talks will be held in Doha tomorrow morning.

Insiders told Geo News that Defense Minister Khawaja Asif led the Pakistani delegation, while his Afghan counterpart Mullah Yaqub headed the country’s delegation.

Additionally, sources said that senior security officials along with the defense minister supported the talks. Meanwhile, the Afghan Intelligence Chief is also part of the Afghan delegation.

Sources added that Pakistan told the Afghan delegation that the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan was “unacceptable”.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that a high-level delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif was confirmed to hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha.

The foreign ministry said the talks would mainly focus on “immediate steps to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan originating from Afghanistan” and “peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border”.

Governments in Islamabad and Kabul on Friday extended a 48-hour war for the duration of the Doha talks as they try to resolve clashes that last week left dozens and hundreds injured in the worst violence between the two South Asian countries since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.

“Pakistan does not escalate, urges Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist organizations, including FAC/TTP and FAAH/BLA,” posted on X.

The ministry also appreciated Qatar’s mediation efforts and hoped that these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Earlier, Taliban government spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, also confirmed that a high-level delegation from Afghanistan had left for Doha on Saturday for peace talks with Pakistan.

“As promised, the talks with the Pakistani side will be held today in Doha,” Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, adding that the Kabul team was headed by Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqub.

‘Doha agreement is the only option for Afghanistan’

In addition, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has asked the Afghan government to abide by the Doha Agreement – which prohibits the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities, saying it is the only way to end tensions.

Speaking on Geo News program Naya Pakistan, he noted that Pakistan had tried to defuse the tension in all possible ways – including through diplomatic channels and military contacts – but to no avail.

Talking about Qatar’s efforts, Talal said that for the first time, a third country is joining in expressing that Afghanistan has to abide by the Doha agreement.

“The only positive way forward is for Afghanistan to prohibit the use of its territory by all actors using it for terrorist acts, as provided for in the Doha Agreement.”

In response to a question, the state minister said that Afghans lack commitment and determination. “Khawarij [terrorists] They are trained and sponsored before entering Pakistan.

“Now, Afghanistan is shaking hands and recognizing India [occupied] Kashmir as an Indian Territory. We kept saying they are proxies and now they have proved it.

He reiterated that Pakistan will maintain its stand and do whatever is necessary to defend its people and territorial integrity.

‘high tension’

Against the backdrop of increasing terror attacks in Pakistan, the two neighboring countries are witnessing heightened tensions amid the reluctance of the Afghan Taliban government to act against terrorist groups.

Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Talaban Pakistan (TTP), aka Fitna al-Kharj, resorted to an unprovoked attack on Pakistan on 12 October.

Pakistan’s armed forces gave a befitting response to the aggression, killing more than 200 Afghan Taliban and allied militants in self-defense. The army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said 23 soldiers accepted martyrdom in clashes with Taliban forces and terrorists.

Additionally, security forces also carried out “sanctuary strikes” in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and the capital, Kabul, successfully destroying several strongholds in response to the recent offensive.

After the ceasefire, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan was ready to negotiate with the Taliban government in Afghanistan on suitable terms.

Since the return of Taliban rule to Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of KP and Balochistan, the country has witnessed an increase in cross-border terrorist incidents.

The two countries share an unsecured border of about 2,500 km with several crossing points, which are important as a vital element of regional trade and a key element of relations between people on both sides of the fence.

However, the issue of terrorism remains an important issue for Pakistan, which has urged Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being attacked by groups like the banned TTP inside the former territory.

– with additional input from the writers