Can Pakistan and Afghanistan end their border conflict in Qatar peace talks? | DW News

Key Concepts

• Border Conflict: Week-long hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Accusations: Afghanistan's Taliban rulers accused of supporting militant groups within Pakistan; Pakistan accused of violating a truce.
• Air Strikes: Pakistan's alleged air strikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province.
• Civilian Casualties: Deaths and injuries among ordinary people, including cricketers.
• Militant Attacks: Attacks by militants on Pakistani security forces.
• Peace Talks: Delegations from both countries meeting in Doha to de-escalate the conflict.
• Ceasefire: Hopes for an extension of the current truce.
• Security Issues: The core of the conflict, with Pakistan blaming Afghanistan for harboring militants.

Border Conflict and Accusations

Delegations from Pakistan and Afghanistan have convened in Doha in an effort to de-escalate a week-long border conflict that has resulted in numerous fatalities. The core of the dispute lies in Pakistan's accusation that Afghanistan's Taliban rulers are providing support to militant groups operating within Pakistan. Conversely, Kabul denies these allegations and, in turn, accuses Islamabad of violating a truce that had temporarily halted the fighting. This current conflict represents the most severe confrontation since the Taliban assumed power four years ago.

Aftermath of Air Strikes in Paktika Province

Following an air strike in Afghanistan's Paktika province, villagers reported that their homes were damaged on Friday, attributing the strikes to neighboring Pakistan. They stated that three local cricket players were among those killed. One villager described the incident as an "atrocity on the part of Pakistan," emphasizing that "innocent people, women, children were martyred" in the affected houses, with most casualties occurring during the second strike when villagers had gathered to assist after the first.

Escalation of Fighting and Claims of Losses

The two nations experienced their most intense fighting this week, with dozens of civilians and security forces killed in cross-border attacks from both sides. Pakistan conducted air strikes in Kabul and other Afghan regions. Both the Afghan Taliban government and Pakistani authorities claim to have inflicted significant losses on each other. Islamabad asserts that the Taliban are supporting Pakistani militants who are attacking Pakistan's security forces, an accusation the Taliban deny.

Pakistan stated, "exercising its right of self defense not only effectively repulsed the assaults all along the border but also inflicted heavy losses on Taliban forces and affiliated terrorist groups operating from the Afan soil. Our targeted and precise defensive response was not targeted towards the Afan civilian population. Unlike Taliban forces, we exercise extreme caution in our defensive responses to avoid loss of civilian lives."

Militant Attacks on Pakistani Security Forces

On the ground, Pakistan has been experiencing frequent militant attacks, leading to the loss of security forces. On Friday, seven security personnel were killed in an attack by militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan, an area near the Afghan border.

Peace Talks in Doha and Hopes for Resolution

As delegations from Kabul and Islamabad engage in peace talks in Doha, many caught in the crossfire are hopeful for an agreement on lasting peace. DW reporter Vinish Jav, who filed the report, provided further details on the air strike in Paktika province.

Afghan officials reported that a Pakistani air strike hit residential buildings in the southeastern province of Paktika, claiming at least 10 civilian casualties. The Afghan Cricket Board, in a tweet, confirmed the deaths of three cricketers – Kabir, Seakadullah, and Harun – in the attack. Footage from Associated Press showed wounded cricketers from the incident. In protest, the Afghan Cricket Board has withdrawn from a tri-nation T20 cricket series scheduled to be played in Pakistan, citing the alleged air strike and the killing of their players.

Pakistan, however, maintains that its targets were a militant group responsible for a suicide attack that killed seven Pakistani security personnel.

Root Causes of Deteriorating Relations

The current conflict stems primarily from security issues. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of protecting and harboring Pakistani Taliban militants, who Pakistan claims are attacking its state and security forces. Pakistan reports hundreds of security forces and civilians killed this year due to these attacks. The Afghan Taliban deny these accusations, stating that the Pakistani Taliban are Pakistan's internal problem, which Pakistan should address independently. Pakistan, however, is not accepting this stance and demands credible action from the Afghan Taliban against Pakistani militants allegedly based in Afghanistan.

Expectations from Doha Peace Talks

Following a week of intense conflict, Pakistan and Afghanistan's defense ministers and intelligence chiefs are meeting in Doha. The primary objective is to seek an extension of the current ceasefire and to discuss a long-term solution to the conflict, which is acknowledged as contentious and difficult. Pakistan reiterates its demand for decisive and credible action from the Afghan Taliban against militants operating from Afghan territory. The outcome of these talks remains to be seen, but the civilian casualties and injuries have fueled widespread hope for a step towards lasting peace between the two countries.