Recent escalation along the Pakistan-Afghan border follows a series of militant attacks in Pakistan
Afghan Taliban Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid speaks during the death anniversary of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the late leader and founder of the Taliban, in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 24, 2022. REUTERS
A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by the Defense Minister, arrived in Doha, Qatar on Saturday to hold talks with the Afghan Taliban, focusing on immediate steps to end cross-border terrorism and restore peace along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The Taliban delegation is led by the Minister of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob “Mujahid”, and includes the head of intelligence, Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq.
Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, confirmed on his official
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The Pakistani delegation landed around 2:00 p.m. PST, while the Taliban delegation arrived earlier to begin talks.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stressed that it was not seeking escalation, but urged the Taliban to honor its commitments to the international community and address Pakistan’s security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist entities, including the Foreign Afghan Khalq/Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Hezb-ul-Mujahideen/Afghan foreign Balochistan Liberation Army. Pakistan also expressed its gratitude for Qatar’s mediation efforts.
A high-level delegation from Pakistan, led by our Defense Minister, will hold talks with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today. The talks will focus on immediate steps to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan from Afghanistan and restore…
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 18, 2025
The recent escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border follows a series of militant attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide attack that killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured thirteen others, prompting Pakistan to carry out airstrikes in Afghanistan.
According to ReutersThe clashes, which marked the worst violence along the 2,600-kilometre-long border since the Taliban seized power in 2021, led Pakistan and Afghanistan to extend a 48-hour ceasefire from October 16 to facilitate talks.
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The fighting involved Afghan Taliban forces, apparently aided by elements of the outlawed India-linked Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and targeted several areas, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral and Baramcha, with attacks aimed at facilitating militant incursions into Pakistan.
The Pakistani military claimed that more than 200 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed, while twenty-three Pakistani soldiers were martyred, although Afghanistan reported fifty-eight casualties.
The cross-border violence has also affected civilians, with Pakistan closing its borders and the Afghan national cricket team withdrawing from a tournament in Pakistan following the airstrikes.
The clashes underscore Pakistan’s long-standing demand that the Afghan Taliban rein in militants operating from Afghan territory, despite ongoing diplomatic engagement.
