Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Conflict: Diplomatic Delegations Meet in Doha Following Deadly Clashes and Airstrikes

Afghan men examine the aftermath of an airstrike during cross-border conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Delegations from Afghanistan and Pakistan are traveling to Doha, Qatar to address the most severe crisis between the nations in recent years, following over a week of fighting that has resulted in dozens of casualties and hundreds of injuries on both sides.

On Saturday, the Taliban government announced that the Afghan delegation includes the defense minister and the national intelligence agency chief. According to Pakistan's national broadcaster PTV, a Pakistani delegation was scheduled to depart on Saturday as well, though specific details were not provided.

In an official statement, the Taliban noted: "In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. As previously agreed, negotiations with the Pakistani side are scheduled to take place today in Doha. In this regard, a high-level delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by the Honorable Minister of Defense."

Both nations claim to be responding to aggression from the other. Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan is harboring militants who conduct attacks in border regions, an accusation firmly denied by the Taliban authorities.

A 48-hour ceasefire intended to halt hostilities expired Friday evening, after which Pakistan launched cross-border strikes.

Pakistani security officials confirmed to The Associated Press that airstrikes targeted districts in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, specifically Urgun and Barmal.

According to these officials, who spoke anonymously due to lack of media authorization, the strikes targeted hideouts of the militant Hafiz Gul Bahadur group. They claimed that dozens of armed fighters were killed while asserting that no civilians were harmed.

One official stated that the operation was a direct response to a suicide bombing at a security forces compound in Mir Ali, located in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the previous day.

However, Afghan officials reported that the aerial assaults resulted in at least 10 civilian casualties, including women and children. In response, Afghanistan's national cricket board announced a boycott of an upcoming series scheduled to take place in Pakistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban government, denounced the "repeated crimes of Pakistani forces and the violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty."

He characterized these actions as provocative and "deliberate attempts" to prolong the ongoing conflict.