Pakistani delegation led by Khawaja Asif arrives in Qatar for talks with Afghan govt

DOHA: A Pakistani delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif will hold talks with the Afghan Taliban in Qatar on preventing cross-border terrorism.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said that a high-level delegation led by the Defense Minister will hold talks with the Afghan Taliban in Doha today.

The talks will discuss the immediate end of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan.

According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Pakistan has said that it does not want any tension, wants a peaceful solution for regional peace and stability, the Afghan Taliban should abide by its international commitments and address Pakistan’s security concerns.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan has demanded verifiable action against terrorist groups from Afghan soil. Pakistan appreciated Qatar’s mediation efforts and said that the talks are an important step for peace and stability in the region.

Earlier, an Afghanistan-based broadcaster, TOLOnews, citing government sources, confirmed the development, stating that the discussions will include talks on extending the ceasefire.

Pakistan’s state-run broadcaster, Pakistan TV Digital, citing security sources, also confirmed that both neighboring countries are set to hold talks to defuse ongoing border tensions.

Pakistan has so far not officially confirmed the details regarding the negotiations.

However, earlier on Wednesday, in its statement announcing the ceasefire, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had said that both sides would hold dialogue “to find a positive resolution” to this complex but solvable issue through constructive dialogue.