After at least 10 civilians (including three cricketers) were killed in an airstrike by the Pakistani Air Force in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, the two sides have decided to hold immediate peace talks in the Qatari capital Doha. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has sent a high-level delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Intelligence Chief General Asim Malik to Doha, while a delegation led by Afghan Defense Minister Maulvi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid is scheduled to arrive there on Saturday.
The fresh attacks came shortly after a 48-hour temporary ceasefire that began on Wednesday evening and was extended until the Doha talks. The Taliban have called it a violation of the ceasefire and warned of retaliation. However, Pakistan claims that these precision airstrikes were carried out on the hideouts of terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The latest phase of the border conflict began on October 11, when Afghan forces fired on Pakistani posts in Kurram. Pakistan claimed to have killed 19 Taliban fighters in drone strikes in Kandahar and Helmand. The Taliban called the attacks a “border violation” and claimed that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed.
According to the United Nations, at least 18 people have been killed and 360 injured in the conflict so far. Pakistani airstrikes in Spin Boldak, Kandahar, killed 15 civilians (including women and children) and injured more than 80.
Hours after the ceasefire was extended, Pakistan launched fresh attacks in the Arghun and Barmal districts of Paktika on 17 October. The Taliban accused the militants of violating the ceasefire and warned of retaliation. The attacks killed 10 civilians (including 2 children and 3 local cricketers) and wounded 12, confirmed a provincial hospital and an Afghan Cricket Board spokesperson.
Qatar-mediated talks are underway in Doha. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said he is ready for talks, but only if Kabul takes his security concerns seriously, as the limit of patience has been crossed. However, the Taliban government has rejected the allegations, accusing Pakistan of spreading disinformation, and Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani has expressed his desire for good neighborly relations. International organizations, including the United Nations, have appealed to both sides to exercise restraint and seek a diplomatic solution.
