ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan have discussed ways to reduce regional tensions, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday, following clashes between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces along their border.
The clashes erupted after Pakistan on Feb. 21 conducted airstrikes against what it called were militant camps in Afghanistan, following a series of suicide attacks that Islamabad blamed on Afghanistan-based groups. Kabul denies the allegation.
Afghanistan said on Thursday it had conducted strikes against Pakistani military targets, prompting a response that a Pakistani official said killed over 100 Afghan Taliban fighters. The clashes, the second such escalation between the neighbors, threaten a protracted conflict along their 2,600-kilometer border.
In recent months, several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, have made efforts to lower tensions between the neighbors since they reached a fragile ceasefire in Oct. last year, following a week of similar clashes along the border.
“Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call today from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Ishaq Dar,” the SPA reported.
“During the call, they discussed developments in the region and ways to reduce tensions while safeguarding the region’s security and stability.”
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid earlier said 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 19 posts seized during the clashes. The Taliban have also warned there would be a strong response to attacks from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Iran offered to help “facilitate dialogue” to resolve the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Islamabad’s air strikes on Kabul following border clashes.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready to provide any assistance necessary to facilitate dialogue and to enhance understanding and cooperation between the two countries,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.
