Kabul/Islamabad, Feb 28 (.) Amid the unexpected surge of hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the ruling Taliban regime has signalled a desire for holding bilateral talks for resolving differences, though Islamabad is yet to respond to an offer for diplomacy.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior minister, and Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated the group’s stated commitment to diplomacy, saying the path to talks remains open.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, also told Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi of Qatar that the Taliban do not support violence and prefer to resolve issues through mutual understanding and respect.
Speaking at a mosque in Khost on Friday, Haqqani had urged Islamabad not to take actions that would force the Taliban to declare what he described as a “nationwide Jihad”.
Warning Islamabad of dire consequences should it force Taliban to take such a step, Haqqani called on international community to help facilitate dialogue between the two sides before the situation spirals out of control.
At a separate news conference, Mujahid warned that continued clashes could destabilise the region. He called on neighbouring countries to prevent further Pakistani military attacks and said Islamabad had shown no willingness to resolve disputes through negotiations.
Hamdullah Fitrat, a deputy spokesperson for the Taliban, alleged that Pakistani forces deliberately targeted civilians in Afghanistan’s Khost Province and Paktika Province, killing 19 people and wounding 26 others, most of them women and children.
Pakistan in response has claimed that it killed 276 Afghan militants, alleging that it destroyed 73 Taliban outposts during its strikes into Afghanistan, and seized 18 others, wounding more than 400 fighters, and destroying 115 Taliban tanks, while having lost 55 of its own men, though the Taliban has refuted this claim, stating that Pakistan has been repeatedly targeting civilians.
The escalation has prompted diplomatic efforts by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Türkiye to reduce tensions and encourage talks. China and Russia have also expressed readiness to mediate.
It remains unclear whether regional efforts will succeed in ending the fighting, but relations between the Taliban and Pakistan appear to remain highly strained, with neither side willing to stop anytime soon.
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