Taliban and Pakistan to Hold Talks in Doha Amid Border Tensions
Amid escalating tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, sources report that representatives from the Taliban administration and the Pakistani government are scheduled to engage in negotiations in Doha, the capital of Qatar. According to informed sources, the aim of the talks is to reach a long-term ceasefire between the two sides.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban administration, confirmed that a delegation from the group will travel to Doha to participate in the discussions. The talks come after a 48-hour ceasefire ended, following which Pakistani forces launched rocket attacks on the Argun and Bermal districts in Paktika province.
According to Pakistani media, the strikes targeted positions and shelters associated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, an organization with a history of operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas. The Taliban administration has yet to issue an independent response to Pakistan’s claims, but the expansion of the conflict into civilian areas has raised serious security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that eight members of the national cricket team, who were present in Argun district, were killed during last night’s Pakistani military attacks. The tragic incident has sparked a wave of anger and sadness on social media and among sports figures.
Pakistan’s operations in Paktika came just one day after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Although the Taliban has not officially claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, statements from Pakistani officials — particularly Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif — indicate intense anger in Islamabad.
In harshly worded remarks, Asif recently stated: “The Taliban, who have now sought refuge in India, were once under our protection.” His comments highlight a significant shift in Islamabad’s approach to its dealings with the Taliban, a relationship that was once based on mutual support but has now taken on an increasingly adversarial and mistrustful tone.
