Pakistan, Afghanistan extend ceasefire as Doha talks set to begin

DOHA TALKS TO FOLLOW DAYS OF FIERCE FIGHTING

The truce, which first took effect on Wednesday, paused several days of heavy cross-border fighting that killed dozens and wounded hundreds.

Neither Pakistan’s military nor Afghanistan’s defence ministry commented on the upcoming talks.

“In this situation, things are moving quickly. If dialogue is to take place somewhere, we will share information at the right time,” said a Pakistani foreign office spokesperson in Islamabad.

“But at this point, I have no specific information to share,” he added.

LONG-SIMMERING TENSIONS

Once close allies, Islamabad and Kabul have exchanged artillery and airstrikes across their frontier in recent weeks before agreeing to the short-term truce that expired on Friday afternoon.

Pakistan says militants based in Afghanistan have intensified attacks inside its territory and has demanded that the Taliban government rein them in.

The Taliban denies harbouring militants, accusing Pakistan of spreading misinformation, provoking tensions, and backing Islamic State-linked groups to destabilise Afghanistan, allegations Islamabad rejects.