Sources say the extension was granted following an official request from the Afghan Taliban regime.
Pakistani soldiers stand vigil next to the new border fence along the border of Afghanistan’s Paktika province in Angoor Adda, South Waziristan. Photo: AFP)
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed Friday to extend their ceasefire by 48 hours until the conclusion of planned talks in Doha, according to three Pakistani security officials and an Afghan Taliban source.
A Pakistani delegation has already arrived in Doha while an Afghan delegation is expected to reach the Qatari capital on Saturday, the sources said, Reuters reported on Friday.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that the temporary ceasefire between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban was extended at the request of Kabul, after the initial 48-hour truce expired at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Learn more: Pakistan accepts Afghan Taliban regime’s request for 48-hour ceasefire
According to the sources, the extension was granted following a formal request from the Afghan Taliban government, which had previously requested a short-term pause to ease tensions along the border.
They added that high-level negotiations between the two sides are expected to begin on Saturday to discuss de-escalation mechanisms and future cooperation.
As the ceasefire deadline approached, the Foreign Ministry described the situation as “delicate”. “We are in a temporary ceasefire, we are trying to work on a diplomatic path to make it sustainable and for the long-term stability of the relationship – that is a broader goal for us,” spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told a weekly press briefing.
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“But beyond that, I am not able to share any information with you,” he added.
A temporary truce between the neighbors on Wednesday ended days of fierce fighting that left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday: “For the truce to continue, the ball is in the court of the Taliban government, while adding that New Delhi was involved in the confrontation.” He said: “If they want to resolve the issues and respond to our genuine demands within 48 hours, then we are ready to accommodate them.”
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM REUTERS.
