Pakistan, Afghanistan Reach Ceasefire Deal in Doha Talks

News Desk 

Islamabad/Doha: Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a landmark ceasefire agreement following high-level talks in Doha, Qatar — a major breakthrough aimed at easing border tensions and restoring stability in the region, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced late Sunday night.

The deal, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, establishes an immediate ceasefire and outlines a framework for creating a permanent peace mechanism between the two neighbours. 

Both sides also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the truce’s sustainability and verification through a “reliable and lasting mechanism,” according to the Qatari statement.

During the first round of negotiations, Pakistan’s delegation was led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob headed Kabul’s team. Senior security officials and the Afghan intelligence chief also participated in the talks.

Confirming the development, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the agreement would help end border hostilities and ensure mutual respect for territorial sovereignty. He added that terrorist activity from Afghan soil into Pakistan would cease immediately under the deal.

Asif further announced that delegations from both sides will reconvene in Istanbul on October 25 to continue discussions, thanking Qatar and Turkiye for their mediation efforts.

The ceasefire follows weeks of escalating tensions between the two countries. Pakistan had accused the Taliban-led government in Kabul of failing to act against terrorist groups, particularly the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), responsible for a surge in cross-border attacks since 2021.

On October 12, Taliban forces and TTP militants allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistani positions, prompting Islamabad to respond with precision strikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul, killing over 200 militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Pakistan’s military confirmed that 23 soldiers were martyred in the clashes.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later stated that Pakistan had also targeted camps of the proscribed Gul Bahadur group in North and South Waziristan, eliminating 60 to 70 militants, while additional operations neutralized over 100 fighters affiliated with the Khawarij group attempting cross-border attacks.

Following the truce, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the agreement, saying Pakistan remains ready to engage with the Taliban regime “on reasonable terms” to promote lasting peace.

The two countries share a 2,500-kilometre porous border, critical for regional trade and people-to-people ties, yet long plagued by instability and militant infiltration. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent the use of Afghan territory by militants to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

The Doha ceasefire deal, observers say, may mark a pivotal moment in resetting strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations if both sides adhere to their commitments in the coming weeks.