Saudi-Afghan talks focus on Pakistan border crisis

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed the worsening Pakistan-Afghanistan border tensions and broader regional stability during a phone conversation on Saturday, according to an official Saudi statement. The diplomatic exchange comes as clashes and mutual accusations intensify along the volatile frontier between the two neighboring countries.

Diplomatic push for regional stability

Riyadh said the two ministers reviewed recent developments affecting security in South Asia and explored ways to prevent further escalation. The talks focused on practical steps that could reduce friction and contribute to stability in the region, where cross-border incidents have strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Saudi Arabia’s engagement reflects its ongoing diplomatic outreach in Muslim-majority countries during periods of regional uncertainty.

Escalation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border

Tensions spiked on Feb. 22 when Pakistan’s Information Ministry announced that its forces carried out strikes on seven locations near the Afghan border, describing them as “terrorist camps.” The operation followed a series of bomb attacks inside Pakistan that authorities attributed to militant groups. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry responded by stating that Kabul would deliver an “appropriate and measured response” at a time of its choosing. The Afghan Red Crescent Society later reported that 18 people were killed and several others wounded in the strikes.

Pakistan’s State Minister for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, said approximately 70 militants were “neutralized” during the cross-border operation. In the aftermath, the Afghan administration summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul and issued a formal protest, underscoring the diplomatic strain between the two governments.

Dispute over TTP presence

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan authorities to act against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad designates as a terrorist organization responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistan. Pakistani officials argue that TTP elements operate from Afghan territory and that Kabul has not taken sufficient action to curb their activities.

Afghan officials reject these claims, maintaining that no group is permitted to use Afghan soil to launch attacks against other countries. The dispute is further complicated by the long-standing sensitivity of the Durand Line, the boundary drawn during British colonial rule that serves as the de facto border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and cuts through Pashtun tribal regions on both sides.

Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic engagement signals concern among regional actors over the risk of broader instability in South Asia if tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to rise.