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Pakistan, Taliban Hold Hours-Long Crisis Meeting In Doha After Fierce Border Clashes
Taliban security personnel. (IMAGE: AFP/REPRESENTATIVE)
Delegations from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban held a marathon meeting in Doha on Saturday, lasting more than four and a half hours behind closed doors.
The meeting was aimed at addressing escalating cross-border hostilities that have left dozens dead and strained bilateral relations.
Source in Doha told CNN-News18 that the session was opened by a high-ranking Qatari official, after which both sides were allowed to discuss outstanding issues directly.
Officials expressed cautious optimism that the talks could result in a positive announcement.
Pakistan is reportedly seeking a conditional extension of the ceasefire and safe zones for its convoys along the Khost–North Waziristan axis, amid growing Taliban resistance.
The Afghan side, however, has demanded a complete halt to Pakistani aerial intrusions and is pushing for guarantees on prisoner releases before agreeing to any long-term peace framework.
“We are duty-bound to defend our country. This is an uneven war as we lack aerial defence,” a Taliban spokesperson said.
Qatar, acting as mediator with backing from Western powers, is reportedly encouraging both sides to issue a joint statement calling for mutual restraint without directly blaming either party.
Doha has emphasised its interest in stabilising the Pak-Afghan corridor while balancing its diplomatic ties with both nations.
The crisis follows a 48-hour ceasefire that ended Friday, after which Pakistan launched cross-border strikes, escalating the conflict.
Both countries have accused each other of initiating hostilities, while Afghan authorities have denied providing sanctuary to militants attacking Pakistani territory.
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban government spokesperson, condemned what he described as “repeated crimes of Pakistani forces and violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty”, calling them provocative acts aimed at prolonging hostilities.
The border region, defined by the 2,611-kilometre Durand Line, remains a long-standing flashpoint, with Afghanistan refusing formal recognition of the frontier.
Pakistan has cited rising militancy along its border, claiming, without evidence, that India is backing armed groups in the area.
Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, urged Afghan authorities to prioritise security and stability over continued violence.
Speaking at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, he said: “The Taliban must rein in the proxies who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Mutual security must take precedence over perpetual violence, and progress over hardline obscurantism.”
Both delegations remain in Doha for follow-up discussions, with observers anticipating that any breakthrough could pave the way for de-escalation along the volatile Pak-Afghan border.
October 18, 2025, 8:08 PM IST
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