WEB DESK: Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement on an immediate ceasefire following crucial high-level talks held in Doha, Qatar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Sunday. Both sides pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty and are scheduled to reconvene in Istanbul on October 25 to continue discussions on key security matters.
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where recent cross-border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes targeted camps of the Gul Bahadur group inside Afghanistan. The talks in Doha facilitated by Qatar were aimed at de-escalating hostilities and addressing Pakistan’s growing security concerns.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Defence Minister Asif confirmed, “A ceasefire agreement has been finalised. The terrorist attacks from Afghanistan on Pakistan’s soil will cease immediately. Both neighbouring countries will respect each other’s territory.” He added that delegations from both sides will meet again in Istanbul on October 25 for detailed discussions.
The minister expressed gratitude to Qatar and Turkiye for mediating between the two countries, saying, “We are sincerely grateful to both brotherly nations, Qatar and Turkiye.”
Welcoming the development, Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar described the agreement as “a step in the right direction.” Taking to X, Dar wrote, “I welcome the agreement finalised late last night in Doha. It is the first step in the right direction.” He also lauded the “constructive role played by brotherly Qatar and Turkiye” in facilitating the breakthrough.
Dar expressed hope that the upcoming meeting in Istanbul would lead to the creation of a “concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism” to prevent terrorist activities originating from Afghan territory. He stressed the need to “put all efforts in place to prevent any further loss of lives.”
Meanwhile, the Taliban government’s spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday. “Negotiations between representatives of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, held in Qatar, have concluded with the signing of a bilateral agreement,” he said.
According to Mujahid, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to peace, mutual respect, and strong neighbourly relations. The statement added that “neither country will undertake any hostile actions against the other, nor will they support groups carrying out attacks against the Government of Pakistan.”
The ceasefire marks a significant diplomatic step between Islamabad and Kabul, as both nations attempt to ease long-standing border tensions and prevent further regional instability.
