Saudi Arabia and Qatar Mediate to De-escalate Tensions Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

Kathmandu. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are attempting to halt the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A diplomatic campaign has been initiated amid fears that the conflict could intensify following Pakistan's bombing of major Afghan cities.

The overnight airstrikes in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, were Pakistan's most extensive aerial assault and the first against the Taliban leadership's southern stronghold since they returned to power in 2021.

“In coordination with Qatar, Saudi Arabia is working to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” a source familiar with the matter informed on condition of anonymity while discussing the collaboration with Qatar.

According to the source, the goal is to ‘de-escalate the situation and prevent it from spiraling out of control.’ Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, held a telephone conversation with Qatar's chief negotiator, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, on Friday.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, also held a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar. “Both Riyadh and Doha are in contact at a high level, and we hope the confrontation ends as soon as possible,” the source stated.

Islamabad's latest action followed an attack by Afghan forces on the Pakistani border on Thursday night, in retaliation for an earlier airstrike by Islamabad.

Relations between the Taliban government and Pakistan have swung between cautious engagement and open hostility. Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups launching attacks into Pakistan, an allegation the Taliban government consistently denies.

A ceasefire was established in October following clashes between the two countries that resulted in the deaths of over 70 personnel. However, several rounds of talks held in Doha and Istanbul since then have failed to secure a lasting agreement.

Qatar, recognized as a mediator in conflicts, was permitted by the then-US President Barack Obama to allow the Taliban to open a political office in Doha in 2013.

Saudi Arabia, one of the major powers in the Gulf, recently mediated the release of three Pakistani soldiers detained by Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia maintains close military ties with nuclear-armed Pakistan, with whom it signed a mutual defense pact last year.

Both Afghan and Pakistani armies have reported dozens of soldiers killed in the recent violence. Relations between the two neighbors have chilled in recent months following deadly fighting in October, with border crossings largely shut down.