Delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government are set to hold talks in the Qatari capital Doha after a week of fighting that has left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
Violence escalated after deadly explosions in Afghanistan last week, for which Kabul blamed Islamabad. In response, Pakistan accused Afghanistan of harboring terrorists carrying out cross-border attacks. Afghanistan has made similar allegations against Pakistan.
The clashes stopped after a 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday, but fighting has since resumed.
What else do we know about the controversy?
On Thursday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported at least 37 civilians killed and 425 injured in the clashes.
“Talks with the Pakistani side will take place in Doha today,” Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Saturday.
The delegation will be led by the Taliban’s defense minister and intelligence chief.
“Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik are going to Doha today for talks with the Afghan Taliban,” Pakistan state TV said.
At the center of the dispute is Pakistan’s allegation that Afghanistan harbors terrorists responsible for attacks on its soil, a charge the Taliban government denies.
Afghanistan has withdrawn from the cricket series in Pakistan
Hours after the ceasefire ended on Friday, Pakistan carried out cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, targeting militant hideouts in Urgun and Barmal districts, security officials confirmed to The Associated Press.
He said dozens of fighters from the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group were killed in the operation described as retaliation for a suicide bombing at a security compound in Mir Ali a day earlier.
Ten civilians were killed and 12 others were injured in the attacks, a provincial hospital official said.
The attacks prompted the Afghanistan Cricket Board to withdraw from the upcoming triangular T20I series in Pakistan.
It said three local cricketers were killed in the attacks.
Edited by: Sam Dusan Inayatullah