Clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan reignited in February, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of harboring hostile militants who launch attacks on Pakistani territory, a claim Kabul denies, insisting that militancy is an internal Pakistani security issue.
Talks between the two sides have been ongoing in the Chinese city of Urumqi since last Thursday, with China acting as mediator. Afghanistan's Taliban-run Foreign Ministry reported "useful" progress in the negotiations. Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with China's ambassador to Afghanistan, thanking Beijing for hosting the talks and also acknowledging mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistani officials did not directly comment on the talks. Instead, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir convened with top military commanders, vowing to continue military operations until "the culmination of terrorists' safe havens and use of Afghan soil against Pakistan is decisively brought to an end." This stance highlights the deep-seated tensions and Pakistan's insistence on a security-first approach.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan estimates that the conflict has displaced 94,000 people overall, with approximately 100,000 residents in two Afghan border districts completely cut off since February due to the fighting. The recent clashes are considered the most severe between the two countries since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, exacerbating a fragile regional stability.
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of carrying out an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul on March 17, claiming it killed over 400 people. Pakistan rejected this account, stating it "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure." Both parties agreed to a pause in fighting coinciding with the end of Ramadan on March 18, though the underlying disputes remain unresolved.
Source: www.dw.com