DOHA: In a recent diplomatic move following Islamabad's announcement of an operation against Afghanistan-based terrorists, an Afghan Taliban delegation led by Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Afghan interim government, met with Pakistani diplomats at the Doha-III conference.
Historically, Pakistan and Afghanistan have shared close and brotherly ties as South Asian neighbors. However, these relations have recently become strained due to frequent cross-border attacks primarily carried out by the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which, according to Pakistani security officials, operates from Afghan territory.
The Afghan interim government representatives are in Doha to participate in discussions aimed at "increasing engagement with Afghanistan and fostering a more coordinated response to the country, including addressing economic issues and counter-narcotics efforts." They are scheduled to meet with UN officials and over 20 envoys, including the US special representative to Afghanistan, as the international community continues to formulate its approach to Kabul's new leadership.
During the visit, Pakistani Ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Aejaz hosted a dinner for the Afghan Taliban delegation at his Doha residence. The event was attended by senior diplomats, including Pakistan's Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani and Deputy Head of Mission in Kabul Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani. Durrani shared photos of the occasion on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting discussions on developments at the Doha-III conference and various bilateral and regional issues.
Ambassador Aejaz also commented on X, expressing his pleasure at hosting the Afghan and Pakistani delegations at the conference. He emphasized the shared desire for regional peace and security between the neighboring countries.
Diplomatic sources described the meeting as "unusual," noting that the Taliban representatives also engaged with an Indian delegation in Doha. They reported a "positive environment" during the discussions, with the Afghan interim government representatives expressing gratitude to Islamabad for its support of Kabul's position at the Doha conference and on a national level. Mujahid also took to social media, thanking the Pakistani delegation for their hospitality and expressing hope for constructive relations between the two countries.
