Pakistan and Afghanistan Set for Talks in Qatar After Deadly Strikes

Officials from Pakistan are scheduled to meet with their Afghan counterparts in Doha on March 16, 2024, following a series of air strikes by Islamabad that reportedly killed at least 10 people. The meetings come just a day after the Pakistani military broke a fragile ceasefire that had lasted for two days along the Afghan-Pakistani border.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik are leading the delegation to Qatar. A spokesman for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed that a high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate, led by Afghan Defence Minister Mohammed Yaqub, is also en route to Doha for discussions.

The recent ceasefire, which had paused a week of intense border clashes, was shattered when Afghanistan accused Pakistan of conducting air strikes in Paktika province. According to a senior Taliban official, these strikes killed civilians and wounded others, including children. A provincial hospital official reported that among the dead were three players from the Afghanistan Cricket Board who were participating in a domestic tournament. The board has since decided to withdraw from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series scheduled for next month with Pakistan.

In response to the strikes, a senior Pakistani security official stated that the military had carried out “precision aerial strikes” targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a faction linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad claims this group was involved in a recent suicide bombing and gun attack on a military camp in North Waziristan, which resulted in the deaths of seven Pakistani paramilitary troops.

The ongoing violence is rooted in deep-seated security concerns, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to TTP militants, a claim that the Afghan government denies. The recent escalation in hostilities followed explosions in Kabul coinciding with the Taliban’s foreign minister’s visit to India, Pakistan’s long-standing rival.

The initial ceasefire, which commenced at 1300 GMT on March 13, was intended to last 48 hours, but Afghanistan indicated it would remain in effect until Pakistan acted against it. Following the breach, Defence Minister Asif suggested that future communications would no longer be framed as peace appeals and stated that any source of terrorism would face consequences.

In an interview, Zabihullah Mujahid conveyed that Taliban forces had been instructed to refrain from initiating attacks unless provoked by Pakistani forces. He emphasized the right to defend the nation if attacked.

As both nations prepare for talks in Qatar, the situation remains tense, with the potential for further conflict looming over the fragile ceasefire.