A source within the Afghan government has confirmed that high-level negotiations between Afghanistan and Pakistan aimed at addressing border and security issues are set to begin today, Friday, in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

According to the source, Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Defense Minister of the Taliban-led government, will lead the Afghan delegation in the talks.
The source also noted that no agreement has yet been reached on extending the current ceasefire, which expires tonight, but said mediators are working to maintain calm along the border and to facilitate continued dialogue between the two sides.

A day earlier, another reliable source within the Taliban government had confirmed that preliminary discussions were already underway in Doha between representatives of Kabul and Islamabad.

The earlier report indicated that a delegation from the Taliban government was expected to depart from Kabul late Thursday or early Friday to participate in the Doha talks. The extension of the ceasefire was said to be a central topic on the agenda.

This development follows one of the deadliest border escalations in two decades between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The recent clashes erupted after Pakistan carried out airstrikes last Thursday on Kabul and the border province of Paktika, prompting strong condemnation from the Taliban, who called the attacks "unprecedented, violent, and reprehensible."

Islamabad has not officially claimed responsibility for those strikes. However, during a press conference on Friday, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a senior Pakistani military spokesperson, said that there was "evidence indicating that Afghanistan is being used as an operational base for terrorism against Pakistan."

The Doha negotiations are seen as a critical opportunity to defuse escalating tensions, restore border stability, and prevent further deterioration in bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

The source also clarified that no agreement has yet been reached on extending the current ceasefire, which is set to expire tonight, though mediators are working to maintain calm along the border.

A day earlier, another reliable Taliban government source had confirmed that preliminary discussions between Afghanistan and Pakistan were already underway in Doha.
That source said a Taliban delegation from Kabul was expected to depart for Doha on Thursday evening or Friday morning to participate in the talks, adding that the possible extension of the ceasefire would be a key agenda item during the meetings.

The Doha negotiations follow one of the deadliest military escalations in two decades between the two neighboring countries. The border clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes last Thursday that targeted Kabul and Paktika Province.

The Taliban condemned those attacks as "unprecedented, violent, and reprehensible" acts against Afghanistan.

While Islamabad has not officially claimed responsibility, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a senior Pakistani military official, stated during a press conference on Friday that there was "evidence proving Afghanistan is being used as an operational base for terrorist activities inside Pakistan."

The upcoming Doha talks are expected to focus on de-escalating cross-border tensions, establishing communication channels, and preventing further violations of Afghan airspace-a move seen by observers as a test of both sides` willingness to avoid a wider regional confrontation.