By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Qatar, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have intensified diplomatic outreach efforts to help de-escalate rapidly rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following renewed cross-border fighting.

The latest flare-up began Thursday evening when, according to Islamabad, Afghan Taliban opened “unprovoked” fire on Pakistani border posts. In response, Pakistan launched a large-scale air and ground campaign under Operation Ghazab lil Haq, carrying out strikes in Kabul and several other Afghan provinces. Pakistani officials say the operation is ongoing.

Pakistan’s military said nearly 700 Afghan Taliban militants have been killed or wounded in the past 24 hours. 

Amid the escalation, Qatar initiated high-level diplomatic contacts with both Islamabad and Kabul.

According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry, held separate phone calls on Friday with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

During the conversations, the Qatari minister discussed efforts to reduce tensions and promote regional security and stability. He reaffirmed Doha’s support for resolving disputes through peaceful means and strengthening the foundations of regional and international peace.

In a parallel diplomatic exchange, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also received a call from Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two officials discussed regional developments and emphasized the need to intensify international efforts to de-escalate tensions through dialogue.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Dar briefed his counterparts on what he described as Pakistan’s “measured but decisive” response to Afghan aggression, stating that the country’s armed forces carried out targeted operations to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In each of the calls, the leaders underscored the importance of regional peace and stability and agreed to remain in close contact as the situation evolves.

The cross-border escalation marks one of the most serious confrontations between the two neighbors in recent months. Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing anti-Pakistan militant groups to operate from Afghan soil - an allegation Kabul denies.

Diplomatic sources say backchannel communications remain active, and friendly countries are attempting to resolve the crisis through dialogue.