RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Qatar are engaged in efforts to halt deadly fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a source with knowledge of the talks told AFP on Friday.
The diplomatic drive comes as fears of a spiralling conflict grew after Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan, declaring that they were in an “open war” with the Taliban.
The overnight operation was Pakistan’s most widespread bombardment of the Afghan capital and its first air strikes on the southern power base of the Taliban authorities since they returned to power in 2021.
READ MORE: World calls for restraint amid Pakistan, Afghanistan border clashes
“Saudi Arabia, in coordination with Qatar, is making efforts to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” said the source, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The goal is to “de-escalate the situation and prevent it from spiralling out of control,” they added.
On Friday, the acting Afghan foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi called Qatar’s chief negotiator Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, Doha said.
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