Pakistan and Afghanistan start talks in Qatar, says Taliban

[ad_1] Pakistani and Afghan officers started talks in Qatar on Saturday to defuse tensions, a senior Taliban official mentioned, after not less than 10 individuals have been killed in Pakistani airstrikes following a quick truce.

Kabul had accused Islamabad of violating a 48-hour ceasefire, which briefly put a cease to just about every week of cross-border clashes that killed dozens of troops and civilians on either side.

Safety sources in Islamabad mentioned the most recent strikes within the Afghan border areas focused a militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban, in retaliation for an assault on Pakistani paramilitary troops.

Afghanistan's Prime Minister Hassan Akhund mentioned "the discussions are certainly underway," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned on X, in a readout of Akhund's talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

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<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/77c7b30c-ac35-11f0-b9be-005056bf30b7/w:1280/p:16x9/EN-20251018-170058-170508-CS.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/77c7b30c-ac35-11f0-b9be-005056bf30b7/w:388/p:16x9/EN-20251018-170058-170508-CS.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/77c7b30c-ac35-11f0-b9be-005056bf30b7/w:720/p:16x9/EN-20251018-170058-170508-CS.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/77c7b30c-ac35-11f0-b9be-005056bf30b7/w:1024/p:16x9/EN-20251018-170058-170508-CS.jpg 1024w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/77c7b30c-ac35-11f0-b9be-005056bf30b7/w:1280/p:16x9/EN-20251018-170058-170508-CS.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) calc(100vw - 32px), (max-width: 1076px) calc(100vw - 44px), 850px" width="1280" height="720" alt="Pakistan and Afghanistan hold peace talks in Doha after fierce clashes" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Pakistan and Afghanistan maintain peace talks in Doha after fierce clashes © France 24 Each Akhund and Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have spoken with Anwar, who seems to be performing as a mediator within the disaster and "emphasised the necessity to resolve the problem by means of diplomatic means", in response to the Taliban readout. Pakistan's overseas ministry mentioned the talks in Doha aimed to "finish cross-border terrorism towards Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability alongside the Pak-Afghan border".

Islamabad's delegation contains Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief Common Asim Malik, state TV reported.

The Afghan delegation was being headed by defence chief Mohammad Yaqoob, the Taliban defence ministry mentioned on X.

Qatar has not commented on its position as host, although Pakistan's overseas ministry thanked Doha for its "mediation efforts".

'Nonetheless afraid' Safety points are on the coronary heart of the tensions, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of sheltering militant teams led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- a declare Kabul denies.

The cross-border violence flared on October 11, days after explosions rocked Kabul throughout an unprecedented go to by the Taliban's overseas minister Amir Muttaqi to India, Pakistan's rival.

The Taliban then launched a lethal offensive alongside elements of its southern border with Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to vow a robust response.

<img fetchpriority="low" src="https://s.france24.com/media/display/b10dd53c-ac40-11f0-bd47-005056a97e36/w:980/6d64fb7fa3b623a6420009ee956caffa02bf4daf.jpg" srcset="https://s.france24.com/media/display/b10dd53c-ac40-11f0-bd47-005056a97e36/w:246/6d64fb7fa3b623a6420009ee956caffa02bf4daf.jpg 246w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b10dd53c-ac40-11f0-bd47-005056a97e36/w:388/6d64fb7fa3b623a6420009ee956caffa02bf4daf.jpg 388w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b10dd53c-ac40-11f0-bd47-005056a97e36/w:720/6d64fb7fa3b623a6420009ee956caffa02bf4daf.jpg 720w,https://s.france24.com/media/display/b10dd53c-ac40-11f0-bd47-005056a97e36/w:980/6d64fb7fa3b623a6420009ee956caffa02bf4daf.jpg 980w" sizes="(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px" alt="Afghan relatives and mourners surround coffins of victims, killed in aerial strikes by Pakistan, during a funeral ceremony at a cemetery in the Urgun district of Paktika province" style="max-height:567px" loading="lazy" class="a-img "/> Afghan kinfolk and mourners encompass coffins of victims, killed in aerial strikes by Pakistan, throughout a funeral ceremony at a cemetery within the Urgun district of Paktika province © - / AFP Forward of the talks, a senior Taliban official advised AFP that Pakistan had bombed three places in Paktika province late Friday, and warned that Kabul would retaliate.

A hospital official in Paktika advised AFP that 10 civilians, together with two kids, have been killed and 12 others wounded. Three cricket gamers have been among the many lifeless.

Zabihullah, the Taliban spokesman, wrote on X that their forces had been ordered to carry hearth "to keep up the dignity and integrity of its negotiating group".

Saadullah Torjan, a minister in Spin Boldak in Afghanistan's south, mentioned: "For now, the scenario is returning to regular."

Learn extra Pakistan, Afghanistan conform to 48-hour ceasefire after explosions heard in Kabul

"However there's nonetheless a state of battle and individuals are afraid."

Iran, a neighbour to each nations, provided to assist defuse tensions.

In a name between the Iranian and Afghan overseas ministers, Tehran warned that the tensions "threaten to undermine the soundness of the whole area", in response to state information company IRNA.