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peace talks In istanbul between Pakistan And afghanistan The standoff continued on Friday, a day after both sides accused each other increasing conflict on the border This posed a danger of violating the ceasefire brokered by Qatar.
The update on the conversation from Pakistan Information Minister Ataullah Tarar came after an Afghan official said Four Afghan civilians were killed And five others were injured in clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces on their shared border despite joint talks.
Pakistan’s government media reported that Pakistan delegation Leaving for the airport to return home. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also told Pakistan’s independent Geo News channel, “As we speak, the talks are over.”
Asif said that the ceasefire will remain intact until there is no violation from Afghanistan’s side.
In a statement thanking Türkiye and Qatar for mediating the talks, Tarar said the Afghan Taliban had failed to meet Pledges made to the international community Regarding curbing terrorism under the 2021 Doha Peace Agreement.
Tarar said Pakistan “will not support any step by the Taliban government that is not in the interest of the Afghan people or neighboring countries.” He did not elaborate on it, but did say this much islamabad It continues to seek peace and goodwill for Afghans but will take “all necessary measures” to protect its people and sovereignty.
Afghan government spokesperson in Kabul Zabihullah Mujahid Thanking Turkey and Qatar for hosting and brokering the Istanbul talks, Saturday said Afghan representatives “participated in good faith and with due authority” while expecting constructive participation from Pakistan.
However, in a statement he cited differences over security responsibilities and said the discussions did not yield any concrete results. He reiterated that Afghanistan “will not allow anyone to use its territory against any other country,” and affirmed that the Islamic Emirate “will firmly defend the people and land of Afghanistan against any aggression, with the help of Allah and the support of its people.”
Ali Mohammad Hakmal, head of the information and culture department in Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak district, blamed Pakistan for the overnight firing, but said Afghan forces did not respond because of peace talks in Istanbul.
However, there was a largely tense calm along the Chaman border in southwest Pakistan, where there was a brief exchange of fire between the two sides on Thursday night, with both sides accusing each other.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said on Friday that the firing was initiated by Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Information Ministry said on social platform X late Thursday night that “the firing was initiated from the Afghan side, but the situation was brought under control.”
The ministry said the ceasefire brokered by Qatar on October 19 will remain intact.
Andrabi said Pakistan’s National Security Advisor Lieutenant General Asim Malik is leading the Pakistani delegation in the talks with Afghanistan. According to Mujahid, the Afghan side is led by Director of General Intelligence Abdul Haq Wasiq.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of harboring Pakistani terrorists carrying out cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies.
Tension has remained high since last month, when deadly clashes broke out along the border, killing dozens of people, including soldiers, civilians and suspected militants, and injuring hundreds on both sides. The fighting began after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which the Taliban government blamed on Pakistan and vowed revenge.
The worst of the violence between the neighbors in recent years subsided after a ceasefire brokered by Qatar.
Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in terrorist attacks in recent months, most claimed by the Pakistani Taliban – known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP – a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and the United States.
Despite being separate, the TTP is closely associated with the Afghan Taliban. Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, many of its leaders and fighters are believed to have taken refuge in Afghanistan, further straining relations between the two countries.