Pakistan rejects Kabul’s border firing claims, urges respect for ceasefire

Pakistan on Thursday rejected Afghan allegations that its forces initiated firing along the Chaman-Spin Boldak border crossing, urging Kabul to uphold the existing ceasefire and maintain calm amid ongoing bilateral talks in Istanbul.

“We strongly reject claims circulated by the Afghan side regarding today’s incident at the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman,” the Ministry of Information said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

According to the ministry, “Firing was initiated from the Afghan side, to which our security forces responded immediately in a measured and responsible manner.” It added that the situation was “brought under control due to responsible action by Pakistani forces and the ceasefire remains intact.”

Pakistan, Afghanistan return to Istanbul for more peace talks

The statement emphasised that Pakistan “remains committed to ongoing dialogue and expects reciprocity from Afghan authorities.”

The border skirmishes come amid the ongoing third round of talks between the two countries in Istanbul, following a previous round that ended without a lasting truce.

Militaries from the South Asian neighbours clashed last month, with dozens killed in the worst such violence since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Both sides signed a ceasefire in Doha on October 19, but a second round of negotiations in Istanbul last week ended without a long-term deal, due to a disagreement over militant groups hostile to Pakistan operating inside Afghanistan.

“We hope that wisdom prevails and peace is restored in the region,” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters on Wednesday.

He said Islamabad is pursuing a “one-point agenda” of convincing Afghanistan to rein in militants attacking Pakistani forces across their shared border, allegedly with the Taliban’s knowledge.

Two government sources said the head of Pakistan’s military intelligence wing, Asim Malik, is leading the Pakistani delegation.

Pakistan, Afghan Taliban ‘agree’ to revive Istanbul talks ‘to give peace another chance’

The Afghan delegation will be led by intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told state broadcaster RTA.

Talks aimed at preventing repeat of violence

Pakistan and the Taliban had for decades enjoyed warm ties, but relations have deteriorated sharply in recent years.

Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harbouring the Pakistani Taliban, a separate militant group that has clashed repeatedly with the Pakistani military. Kabul denies this, saying it has no control over the group.

The October clashes began after Pakistani airstrikes earlier in the month on Kabul, the Afghan capital, among other locations, targeting the head of the Pakistani Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban administration responded with attacks on Pakistani military posts along the length of the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier, which remains closed to trade.

Clashes have continued throughout the ceasefire period, with multiple deaths reported on both sides.