RIYADH/ISLAMABAD — Saudi Arabia has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling it a vital development for promoting lasting peace and stability in the region.
In an official statement issued on Monday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the agreement reached during talks held in Doha, Qatar.
“Saudi Arabia welcomes the signing by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan of an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries,” the statement read.
The Kingdom also reaffirmed its full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and prosperity for the “brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Saudi Arabia expressed hope that this positive step would ease ongoing tensions along the border between the two nations, which has been the site of recent deadly clashes. The Saudi ministry also appreciated the diplomatic efforts of Qatar and Turkey in facilitating the ceasefire.
Ceasefire Finalised in Doha After Deadly Clashes
The ceasefire was announced after a week of intense border violence — the most severe since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. Talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, brought together Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and his Afghan counterpart Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob.
Following the negotiations, Minister Asif confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that a ceasefire had been finalized. He added that both sides would reconvene on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss further details and verify the ceasefire’s implementation.
A statement by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the agreement, calling it a “complete and meaningful ceasefire.” He noted that both countries had agreed not to take hostile actions against each other or support any groups working against the government of Pakistan.
Mujahid later clarified that while both sides had agreed on key points, the ceasefire did not constitute a formal joint declaration.
Background of the Conflict
The recent escalation began after Islamabad accused Kabul of failing to control militant groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan. In response, Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Taliban-affiliated militants along the 2,600-kilometre shared border.
According to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), over 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants were killed during the military’s self-defence operations, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred in the clashes.
Pakistan’s military leadership has been vocal in its demands for Kabul to take action.
“The Afghan regime must rein in the proxies who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan and are using Afghan soil to perpetrate heinous attacks inside Pakistan,” said Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir during a recent cadet graduation ceremony.
The Taliban, however, denies harboring militants and accuses Pakistan of spreading disinformation and sheltering Daesh-linked operatives to destabilize Afghanistan — a claim Islamabad firmly rejects.
Next Steps
Qatar’s foreign ministry said the follow-up meetings, beginning in Istanbul on October 25, aim to “ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation reliably and sustainably.”
The ceasefire, though fragile, marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough and offers hope for de-escalation between the two neighbouring countries.
