An Afghan delegation heads to Doha today to discuss the crisis with Pakistan, and Sharif is ready for dialogue news

An Afghan official told Al Jazeera that a government delegation from his country will head to Doha today, Friday, to discuss extending the ceasefire with Pakistan, while Islamabad expressed its readiness for dialogue.

The official added that the delegation’s visit to Doha aims to discuss ways to resolve the outstanding issues with neighboring Pakistan.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Jazeera that Pakistani forces violated the truce on the border in Kunar Province, eastern Afghanistan, and fired mortar shells towards Afghan territory.

Mujahid called on the Pakistani side to adhere to the ceasefire, warning of the consequences of violating it.

Pakistani readiness for dialogue

On the other hand, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his country’s readiness for dialogue with Afghanistan to resolve the dispute between them.

He said – during the opening of a cabinet session – that his country had ceased fire for 48 hours at the request of Kabul, so that they could communicate with us to implement our conditions.

He added, “The ball is now in their court. If they are truly serious, they must build on what was stated in their request regarding a ceasefire.”

Releasing prisoners

In a related context, an Afghan security source told Al Jazeera that the Afghan authorities released 5 prisoners from Pakistani forces who were arrested yesterday in the Spin Boldak clashes in southern Afghanistan.

The French news agency, citing medical sources, said that 40 Afghan civilians were killed during the border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Afghanistan had monitored the site of a Pakistani raid that, according to the Afghan authorities, targeted a residential building in the capital, Kabul, last Wednesday evening, killing one person and wounding about 40 others. The reporter said that the bombing also caused material damage to a number of nearby buildings.

Earlier, the Pakistani Ports Authority suspended all procedures for loading and shipping goods intended for Afghanistan, and the movement of thousands of trucks transporting goods between the two countries was disrupted, as Pakistan continues to close its border crossings with Afghanistan despite its announcement of a temporary ceasefire for 48 hours, after border clashes that broke out 4 days ago between the two countries.