Pakistan, Afghan Taliban extend temporary ceasefire, says Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government have agreed to extend their temporary ceasefire for 48 hours until the conclusion of planned talks in Doha, Reuters reported on Friday.

According to diplomatic sources, the decision to prolong the truce was made at the request of the Afghan Taliban.

The 48-hour ceasefire between the two sides was due to expire at 6 pm today.

A Pakistani delegation had already reached in Doha while an Afghan delegation was expected to reach the Qatari capital on Saturday, Reuters quoted sources as saying on condition of anonmity.

High-level talks between Pakistani officials and the Afghan Taliban representatives are expected to begin on Saturday, Reuters added.

The extension aims to prevent any escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border while diplomatic efforts continue to ease tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

The Pakistani government and the Afghan Taliban regime had mutually agreed — on the Taliban’s request — to implement a temporary ceasefire for 48 hours on October 15, the Foreign Office said earlier.

Earlier, Pakistan carried out precision strikes on hideouts belonging exclusively to the Afghan Taliban and Khawarij elements in Afghanistan’s Kandahar and Kabul provinces, destroying several Taliban battalion headquarters.

According to the sources, the Pakistan Army targeted Battalion Headquarters No 4, 8th Battalion and Border Brigade No 5 of the Afghan Taliban in Kandahar. All targets were carefully selected, located away from civilian areas, and successfully destroyed.

Security sources further said that in Kabul, strikes targeted the command and leadership centres of the group known as Fitna al-Hindustan. The Pakistan Army, they added, has the full capability to deliver a forceful response to any act of aggression.

Earlier, Pakistani security forces foiled coordinated attacks by Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij in the border district of Chaman’s Spin Boldak area in Balochistan and on posts in Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing around 50 attackers.

Pakistan Army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said Afghan Taliban militants launched cowardly attacks at four separate locations in Spin Boldak on October 15. Pakistani security forces responded with effective and forceful counterfire, killing 15 to 20 Taliban fighters and wounding several others.

The statement said the attackers used routes that passed through populated villages, showing no regard for civilian safety.