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 anonymity.
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 neighboring 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.
