The Taliban’s defense minister Yaqub Mujahid said Sunday that the Durand Line, the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, was not addressed in Saturday’s ceasefire agreement signed by both sides in Doha.
Speaking at a virtual press conference from the Qatari capital, Mujahid referred to the Durand Line as an “imaginary border” and said the matter “belongs to the nations,” distancing the Taliban leadership from any formal recognition of the boundary.
His comments came amid speculation that a clause in the agreement — referencing “respect for each other’s territorial integrity” — signaled a shift in the Taliban’s position. Pakistan has long insisted the Durand Line is an internationally recognized border, while Afghan governments as well as the Taliban have historically rejected it.
Mujahid said the talks in Doha resulted in commitments from both sides to avoid hostile actions and not to support armed opposition groups. “Both parties pledged not to allow their soil to be used against the other and not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs,” he said.
The agreement, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, included a pledge to establish a joint technical committee to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire and facilitate future dialogue.
Mujahid described the negotiations as “successful” and emphasized that the Taliban will not tolerate threats to Afghanistan’s sovereignty. “We will never allow any country or group to endanger our security,” he said.
He also claimed that the Afghan public had backed the Taliban during the recent border clashes with Pakistan. “The people stood with us,” he said.
Diplomatic balancing act
Addressing broader foreign relations, Mujahid said Taliban seek “balanced and friendly” ties with both India and Pakistan, and warned that “no country has the right to interfere in Afghanistan’s foreign policy.”
“We want relations based on mutual respect with India while maintaining good relations with Pakistan,” he said. “Our ties with India are not against Pakistan, and our ties with Pakistan are not at the expense of India.”
The ceasefire deal, announced Saturday night, followed several days of border clashes and airstrikes that left dozens dead, mostly civilians. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported 37 civilian deaths and 425 injuries resulting from the conflict.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the agreement and said it would immediately halt cross-border attacks and establish mechanisms to prevent future violence.
The next round of Taliban–Pakistan talks is expected to take place in Istanbul later this month.