Peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban are set to begin today, Saturday, in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed that delegations from both sides will arrive in Doha today for the negotiations.

The Afghan delegation includes some hardline leaders. According to sources, the team will have Mullah Yaqoob, Afghanistan’s acting defence minister, who is known for his tough stance on Pakistan. Also included is Mullah Wasiq, the head of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, along with other members.

There has been no official statement from Pakistan about the talks. However, sources say that senior Pakistani officials will also participate in the negotiations.

Journalist Riaz Khan, who closely follows Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, said, “Both countries have had good relations in the past. But recent border attacks, the involvement of Afghan citizens in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Afghanistan’s growing closeness with India have worsened the relationship.”

Riaz Khan added that India cannot attack Pakistan directly, so it uses proxies to achieve its goals. He also reminded that the Doha Agreement included a promise from the Afghan Taliban not to allow their land to be used against other countries.

According to Khan, the main focus of these talks seems to be this issue. He is hopeful the negotiations will bring positive results. He said the poor relations between the neighbours are harmful and could affect trade, emphasizing that all problems should be solved through dialogue.

One key reason for the tension is Afghanistan’s increasing ties with India. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, visited India on October 9. Researchers say this was his first visit to India since the Taliban took power. Analysts believe India is Pakistan’s long-standing enemy, and meetings between Afghanistan and India directly impact Pakistan’s relations with its neighbour.

Involvement of Afghan Citizens in Terrorism

The participation of Afghan citizens in terrorism within Pakistan has also been a major cause of tension between the two countries. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, head of the Pakistan Army’s public relations department, stated that this year alone, nearly 160 Afghan citizens were killed while fighting alongside the militant group Fatah-ul-Khawarij. Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that Afghan soil is being used against Pakistan and that terrorist attacks are being planned from there.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s Statement

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has taken a firm stance, saying that “Afghanistan has become a proxy for India.” Since the Taliban took power in 2021, Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence has reviewed the efforts made to promote peace and stop cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

Efforts Made by Pakistan

These efforts included several high-level visits and meetings: four visits by the foreign minister to Kabul, two visits by the defence minister and ISI officials, five visits by the special representative, five visits by secretaries, one visit by the national security advisor, eight joint coordination committee meetings, 225 border flag meetings, 836 protest messages, and 13 demarches (formal diplomatic protests).

Results of These Efforts

Despite these efforts, Pakistan reported heavy losses: 3,844 people, including civilians, military personnel, and law enforcement, have been killed, and there have been 10,347 terrorist attacks since 2021. The Ministry of Defence states that no positive response has come from Kabul during this period.

Ministry’s Harsh Criticism of Kabul

The statement strongly criticized Kabul, saying, “Now Afghanistan has become a proxy for India. This war on terrorism is being imposed on Pakistan by India, Afghanistan, and the TTP together.” The Ministry added, “Those ruling Kabul, who once hid on our soil and took shelter here, are now sitting in India’s lap and plotting against Pakistan.”

Call for Afghan Refugees to Return

The Ministry also said Pakistan can no longer maintain relations with Kabul as it used to. All Afghan citizens living in Pakistan must return to their homeland because Afghanistan now has its own government. The statement clarified that “there will be no more protest messages or peace appeals, no more visits by Kabul delegations. Whoever supports terrorism will pay a heavy price.”

Lengthy Negotiations Expected

Experts say that Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has expressed that multiple rounds of talks with the Afghan Taliban have already taken place, but cross-border attacks and misuse of Afghan soil continue. Analyst Asad Yusufzai believes these issues mean the negotiations may take a long time and require patience to achieve lasting results.

Pakistan’s Main Demands

A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by the Defence Minister, will meet with Afghan Taliban representatives in Doha today. The main focus of the talks will be to end cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Pakistan does not want conflict but demands that the Afghan Taliban respect their commitments made to the international community. They must take verifiable actions against terrorist groups, including the TTP and BLA, to address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.

Pakistan appreciates Qatar’s mediation efforts and hopes these talks will help bring peace and stability to the region.