Qatar calls for restraint as border clashes erupt between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced deep concern
over the escalating violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging both
nations to show restraint and pursue dialogue to resolve their differences
peacefully.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the latest
clashes were triggered by an assault launched from across the Afghan border by
Taliban fighters and allied militants. Pakistan’s military confirmed that at
least 23 of its soldiers were killed and 29 others injured in the attack.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq
Dar, described the violence as a “serious provocation,” accusing the Taliban
government of unprovoked aggression.
“Pakistan’s strikes target Taliban infrastructure and
terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil,” Dar said. “Our response is
defensive and carefully calibrated to avoid civilian casualties. We expect the
Taliban to take decisive action against those undermining Pak-Afghan
relations.”
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In response, Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesman of the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, dismissed Pakistan’s claims, referring to the
border as an “imaginary line.” He accused factions within Pakistan’s military
of spreading disinformation, violating Afghan airspace, and harbouring
extremist networks responsible for recent attacks.
Fitrat’s statement called on Islamabad to “cease
hostilities, eliminate militant safe havens, and hand over extremist leaders,”
warning that continued provocations could lead to “serious and undesirable
consequences.” The Afghan government, he said, remains committed to defending
its sovereignty while engaging regional and international partners to maintain
stability.
The United Nations also joined calls for restraint. UN High
Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi urged both sides to de-escalate,
writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Nothing good can come from renewed tensions along the
Afghan-Pakistani border — a fragile frontier scarred by decades of conflict and
displacement. For the sake of regional stability and those affected, we must
hope for rapid de-escalation.”
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Relations
between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been strained, largely over the
disputed Durand Line — a colonial-era boundary drawn in 1893 that no Afghan
government has officially recognized. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of
sheltering members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group responsible
for deadly attacks within Pakistan. The issue has reignited old animosities,
resulting in cross-border airstrikes, deadly skirmishes, and growing diplomatic
friction between the two neighbours.
Source: Jurist News