Afghanistan’s Prime Minister, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, has blamed Pakistan for the recent escalation of border clashes, stating that Islamabad initiated the conflict by violating Afghan territory. According to government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, Afghan Prime Minister made the remarks during a telephonic conversation with his Malaysian counterpart, Dato’ Mohammad Anwar Ibrahim yesterday. In a series of social media posts, Mujahid said, the Afghan Prime Minister reaffirmed that Kabul does not seek conflict but was forced to respond after alleged Pakistani aggression. Prime Minister Akhund briefed his Malaysian counterpart on ongoing talks between Afghan and Pakistani officials in Qatar’s capital of Doha and added that Afghanistan is awaiting the outcome of these diplomatic efforts. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the initiation of talks, emphasizing diplomacy as the path forward. The conversation between the two heads of state comes amid the ongoing peace talks between Pakistani and Afghan delegations in Doha after Islamabad’s series of air strikes on Friday night, killing 17 people, including three Afghan cricketers in Paktika province of Afghanistan. The meeting, mediated by Qatar, is aimed at reducing recent border tensions and preventing further escalation.