Kabul-Reuters has reported that the Taliban and Pakistan have agreed to uphold a ceasefire following talks held in Saudi Arabia.
According to the agency, which cited three senior Afghan Taliban officials and two Pakistani officials, including one based in Istanbul, the discussions took place in Saudi Arabia at an unspecified date.
A senior Taliban official said the talks were initiated by Saudi Arabia, adding that the group is open to further meetings in hopes of reaching a “positive outcome.”
Pakistani officials told Reuters that representatives from the military, intelligence services, and the foreign ministry took part in the negotiations.
Reuters noted that neither Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry nor its military, as well as the Taliban’s spokesperson and the Saudi government, responded to requests for comment.
This latest round of talks comes after deadly clashes in October, which prompted both sides to announce a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, followed by meetings in Doha and Istanbul. Those efforts, however, ended without a final agreement.
During the negotiations, Pakistan pressed the Taliban for guarantees that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would not use Afghan territory. The Taliban rejected the proposal, calling the TTP issue an internal matter of Pakistan.
The border clashes led to the closure of key crossings and a halt in trade between the two countries.
