Afghan Taliban meet Pakistani officials in Doha, term meeting ‘good’

Leaders of the Afghanistan interim government held a meeting with Pakistani officials in Doha on Monday in what was seen as an effort to ease tension following the announcement of a fresh operation against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which security officials insist operate from Afghan soil.

Frequent border clashes and the TTP have contributed to the recent tension in relations between the two neighboring countries. When Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Islamabad may target TTP hideouts in Afghanistan last week, the spokesperson for the Afghan ministry responded angrily.

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The Pakistani embassy in Qatar threw a dinner for the Afghan team to discuss bilateral matters on the fringes of the Doha-III meeting, seemingly as an attempt to mend fences between Kabul and Islamabad.

Leading the Taliban delegation at the Doha conference, Zabihullah Mujahid, called his meeting with Pakistani officials “good” and voiced optimism for the establishment of “positive relations” with Pakistan.

On Tuesday, Mujahid posted on the X platform, “We had a good meeting with the ambassador and consuls of the country in Qatar, as well as Mr. Asif Durrani, the special representative of Pakistan.” “I hope for good and positive relations for both countries and am grateful for their hospitality.”

Durrani, for his part, stated that during the meeting, “Doha-III, bilateral and regional issues” were discussed by both parties.

The meeting was held at the house of Pakistan’s ambassador to Qatar, Muhemmed Aejaz, who stated, “Both [sides] remain neighbors and brothers and have a lot in common, including a strong desire for regional peace and security…”

On June 30, Durrani addressed the subject of militancy and called on the Afghan interim government to take action against the TTP and other organizations during his remarks at the conference’s inaugural session, Doha-111.

At a quadrilateral meeting in Doha, officials from Pakistan, the Taliban, Uzbekistan, and Qatar also interacted.

“The Trans-Afghan Railway project, which would connect Uzbekistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan, was evaluated during a quadrilateral conference involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Qatar on the fringes of Doha-III. Ambassador Durrani wrote on X, “The project will effectively connect South & Central Asia.”

“All sides called for early start and completion of the Trans-Afghan Railway project,” stated Mujahid, who was present at the quadrilateral conference.

Durrani demanded at the discussion that Afghanistan’s assets be unfrozen and that there be increased foreign engagement with the interim Afghan government.

Pakistan also emphasized the problem of Afghan refugees and demanded that Afghanistan be made a more welcoming place for their return.

Almost 700,000 Afghans have come in Pakistan since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, it was reported at the conference.