ISLAMABAD, Oct 18 (The African Portal) – Delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government are set to hold talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, after a week of fighting that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
Violence surged following deadly blasts in Afghanistan last week, with Kabul blaming Islamabad. In response, Pakistan accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants who launch cross-border attacks. Afghanistan has made similar accusations against Pakistan.
A 48-hour truce on Wednesday halted the clashes, but fresh fighting has since erupted.
What else do we know about the dispute?
On Thursday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported at least 37 civilians killed and 425 injured in the clashes.
An Afghan government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Saturday, “Negotiations with the Pakistani side will take place today in Doha.”
The delegation would be led by the Taliban’s defense minister and the intelligence chief.
“Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik will be heading to Doha today for talks with Afghan Taliban,” Pakistan state TV said.
Central to the dispute is Pakistan’s accusation that Afghanistan harbors militants responsible for attacks on its soil, a charge the Taliban government denies.
Afghanistan withdraws from cricket series in Pakistan
Hours after the ceasefire ended on Friday, Pakistan carried out airstrikes across the border in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, targeting militant hideouts in the Urgun and Barmal districts, security officials confirmed to The Associated Press.
They said dozens of fighters from the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group were killed in an operation described as retaliation for a suicide bombing at a security compound in Mir Ali a day earlier.
Ten civilians were killed and 12 others wounded in the strikes, a provincial hospital official said.
The attacks prompted the Afghanistan Cricket Board to withdraw from an upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series in Pakistan.
It said three local cricketers died in the attacks.
Credit: DW
