ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghan and Pakistani delegations are heading to the Qatari capital, Doha, hoping to defuse the deadliest crisis between them in several years, after more than a week of fighting killed dozens of people and injured hundreds on both sides.
The Taliban government said Saturday that the Afghan delegation included the defense minister and the head of the national intelligence agency. A Pakistani delegation was due to depart on Saturday, the national broadcaster PTV had said a day earlier. It did not give further details.
Each country says it is responding to aggression from the other. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who carry out attacks in border areas, a charge rejected by the Taliban.
Regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have called for calm, as the violence threatened to further destabilize a region where groups including the Islamic State group and al-Qaida are trying to resurface.
A 48-hour ceasefire intended to pause hostilities expired Friday evening. Hours later, Pakistan struck across the border.