A high-level delegation from Afghanistan has departed for Qatar to engage in discussions with Pakistani representatives, according to a statement on Saturday from Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government. This diplomatic move occurs against a backdrop of continued cross-border hostilities between the two nations.
In a post on the social media platform X, Mujahid stated, “As it was promised that negotiations would be held with the Pakistani side, a high-level delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by the Minister of Defence Maulvi Sahib Muhammad Yaqub Mujahid, left for Doha today.”
Reports emerging from Afghanistan indicate that the delegation also includes the intelligence chief, Mullah Wasiq. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has not issued an official comment on the talks. However, a late-evening meeting between National Security Adviser and ISI chief Lt Gen Asim Malik and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar suggested that General Malik might be traveling to Doha to lead the Pakistani side.
This development follows renewed military action, as security sources reported that Pakistan conducted further strikes on terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan on Friday. The sources cited incidents in the Angoor Adda region and Afghanistan’s Urgun and Barmal districts in Paktika province, stating that precision strikes were carried out against bases of the outlawed Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, resulting in dozens of militant casualties.
