Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after high-level negotiations in Doha, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Sunday. Both countries pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty and are set to meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to continue discussions.
The talks, facilitated by Qatar and mediated by Turkiye, aimed to end cross-border hostilities and address Pakistan’s security concerns amid recent border tensions.
In a statement on X, Asif confirmed that a ceasefire agreement had been finalized and that terrorist attacks from Afghan soil would cease immediately. He expressed gratitude to Qatar and Turkiye for their mediation efforts.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the breakthrough, stating that both sides agreed not only to an immediate ceasefire but also to establish a permanent mechanism for bilateral peace and stability. The Doha negotiations reportedly lasted 13 hours.
The development comes after days of violent clashes along the Pak-Afghan border. On October 11, Afghan forces launched an attack on Pakistani border posts, killing 23 soldiers.
Pakistan retaliated with precision strikes inside Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul, targeting militant hideouts of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and elements of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Despite the escalation, Islamabad emphasized that it did not seek further confrontation and urged Kabul to act against terrorist networks operating from its territory.
Relations between the two countries have remained tense since the TTP ended its ceasefire with Islamabad in 2022. Pakistan continues to accuse the Taliban government of providing safe havens to militants responsible for cross-border attacks, while Kabul denies these allegations.
The latest ceasefire, backed by Qatar and Turkiye, marks a crucial step toward reducing tensions and establishing a framework for long-term regional stability and cooperation.
