Qatar Hosts Afghan-Pakistani Talks After Ceasefire Collapse

The Taliban government announced that a delegation led by Afghanistan’s Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob has arrived in Doha for talks with a Pakistani delegation, mediated by Qatar, following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire between the two countries on Friday evening.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed on the social media platform X that a high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate, headed by Defense Minister Yaqoob, traveled to Doha on Saturday.

Earlier, Pakistan’s state television reported that a Pakistani delegation would also head to Qatar for discussions with the Afghan Taliban leadership.

The renewed dialogue comes amid escalating tensions and mutual accusations between Kabul and Islamabad. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Kabul has condemned recent Pakistani airstrikes on Paktika province that reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.

According to diplomatic sources, Qatari mediation aims to restore the ceasefire and work toward a long-term security understanding between the two neighboring states.

The two sides had agreed on a temporary truce last Wednesday following days of escalating border clashes and airstrikes that left dozens of civilians dead and hundreds wounded.