Pakistan fires into Afghanistan amid Istanbul peace talks, says Taliban

The Afghan Taliban on Thursday accused Pakistani forces of launching attacks on Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak region even as the two sides held ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul. The Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the group deliberately avoided retaliating to prevent civilian casualties and to maintain respect for the ongoing talks.

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“While the third round of negotiations with the Pakistani side has begun in Istanbul, unfortunately, this afternoon, Pakistani forces once again opened fire on Spin Boldak, causing concern among the local population. The Islamic Emirate’s forces, out of respect for the negotiation team and to prevent civilian casualties, have so far shown no reaction,” Mujahid said on X (formerly Twitter).

He added that during the previous round of negotiations, both sides had agreed to extend the ceasefire and avoid any form of aggression. However, Thursday’s incident marked yet another breach of that agreement, raising doubts over Pakistan’s commitment to peace efforts.

According to an AFP report, projectiles were fired from the Pakistani side into Afghanistan, with local sources claiming that both light and heavy weapons were used against civilian areas. Islamabad has yet to issue an official statement regarding the alleged attack.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified over recent months, particularly after a series of deadly border clashes and militant attacks. Last month, confrontations along the border killed more than 70 people, including around 50 Afghan civilians, according to the United Nations. The violence was among the deadliest seen in years between the two neighbours.

Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban-led government in Kabul have worsened since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harbouring militants who launch cross-border attacks.

Both nations had agreed to a temporary ceasefire on October 19 in Qatar, but negotiations to finalise a longer-term truce in Turkey last week stalled. As the third round of talks resumed in Istanbul on Thursday, both sides warned that renewed fighting could erupt if diplomacy fails.