AFGHANISTAN and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following high-level talks held in Doha on Saturday, Qatar’s foreign ministry announced in the early hours of Sunday.
Reuters cited on Sunday that the agreement comes after a week of intense border clashes that killed dozens and left hundreds injured in what is described as the worst violence between the two neighbours since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
Qatar confirmed the truce was the result of negotiations jointly mediated by Qatar and Turkey, adding that both parties have committed to holding follow-up meetings “to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner.”
The talks were led by Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob and Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. According to Afghanistan’s government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, “As promised, negotiations with the Pakistani side will take place today in Doha,” confirming the Kabul delegation had arrived for discussions.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated that the talks were aimed at ending cross-border attacks and restoring stability along the 2,600-kilometre shared frontier. “The talks will focus on immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border,” it said.
The escalation was sparked by Islamabad’s accusations that militants operating from Afghan territory had intensified attacks in Pakistan. In response, Pakistani forces launched airstrikes across the border. Kabul denies providing sanctuary to militants, and in turn, accused Pakistan of spreading disinformation and harbouring Islamic State-linked fighters to destabilise Afghanistan — claims Islamabad denies.
On Friday, a suicide bombing near the border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13 others, according to security sources. Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, said: “The Afghan regime must rein in the proxies who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan and are using Afghan soil to perpetrate heinous attacks inside Pakistan.”
However, tensions flared again despite the ceasefire. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of launching further airstrikes shortly after the truce was extended on Friday. Mujahid claimed the strikes targeted civilians and led to the deaths of three local cricketers in Paktika province.
“The Afghan fighters have been directed to refrain from retaliating to respect the negotiating team, but Kabul reserves the right to respond,” Mujahid said. In protest, Afghanistan has withdrawn from a scheduled Twenty20 international cricket tri-series in Pakistan next month.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, denied that civilians were targeted, stating on X that Pakistan had struck “verified” militant camps along the border. He claimed that over 100 militants were killed by Pakistani forces, most of them linked to the group responsible for Friday’s suicide attack. Tarar also said multiple attacks had been attempted during the ceasefire period.
Reuters has not independently verified the casualty figures or the nature of the targets struck. Further negotiations between the two countries are expected to continue in the coming days. - October 19, 2025
