Typhoon Kalmaegi Batters Central Philippines, Leaves Four Dead and Thousands Displaced

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Jacqueline Hernandez/AP Photo/picture alliance

Efforts to ease escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan appear to be unraveling after marathon negotiations in Doha failed to produce a breakthrough. Pakistani officials accused the Afghan delegation of backtracking on commitments to curb the Pakistan Taliban, or TTP, while Afghan representatives blamed Islamabad for what they described as disorganized and inconsistent talks.

Talks reportedly lasted nearly 18 hours on Monday but ended with both sides trading accusations. Pakistani officials claimed that Kabul’s delegates were receiving contradictory instructions from their leadership, making progress impossible. Afghan media, meanwhile, reported that Pakistani negotiators repeatedly left the table, further straining communication.

The impasse has deepened fears of renewed cross-border conflict following a fragile ceasefire signed earlier this month. Recent skirmishes along the border have already claimed lives on both sides, heightening the urgency of diplomatic engagement.

Experts say that mutual distrust and diverging priorities continue to define the relationship. Pakistan insists that Afghanistan must dismantle TTP sanctuaries, while Kabul argues that Pakistan’s domestic insecurity is its own responsibility. Analysts note that the Afghan Taliban’s ideological and operational ties with the TTP complicate any effort to sever relations.

The situation is further inflamed by mounting violence inside Pakistan. Attacks attributed to the TTP have surged, with 2024 marking one of the deadliest years in nearly a decade. Islamabad’s patience appears to be thinning, as Defense Minister Khawaja Asif recently warned of potential military action should Kabul fail to act.

Regional powers, including China, Qatar, and Turkiye, are attempting to mediate, while U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly offered to intervene. Yet, experts remain skeptical that diplomacy alone can defuse the crisis.

Analysts caution that a new conflict would not only destabilize the region but could also strengthen militant groups on both sides of the border, with devastating consequences for civilians caught in the middle.