The Taliban government confirmed that it will participate in talks with Pakistan in Qatar, following the collapse of a ceasefire that had temporarily calmed tensions along the border between the two countries.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced on X that “a high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate, led by Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob, has traveled to Doha today (Saturday).”
Earlier, Pakistan’s state television reported that a Pakistani delegation would also head to Qatar on Saturday for talks with the Afghan Taliban.
According to sources, mediators are seeking both sides’ agreement to announce an extension of the ceasefire, which expired at 6 p.m. on Friday. Although several international news agencies reported on Friday that the Taliban and Pakistan had agreed to extend the truce, Taliban sources told Al Arabiya that no such agreement had been reached prior to the negotiations.
Two senior Afghan Taliban leaders arrived in Qatar for talks with Pakistani officials amid escalating border clashes between the neighboring countries, according to Taliban-controlled media on Saturday. Reports stated that Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and Intelligence Chief Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq arrived in Doha early Saturday morning. The visit aims to discuss security cooperation and cross-border tensions with Pakistani representatives, according to Khaama Press.
The talks are expected to be mediated by Qatari officials, following reports that both sides are seeking a long-term ceasefire after a series of deadly airstrikes and retaliatory attacks in recent days.
The visit comes as Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants from the Pakistani Taliban, while Kabul condemns repeated Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province that have killed numerous civilians, including women and children.