After a week of deadly border clashes, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, following talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha.
The meeting, attended by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, marked the first major step toward de-escalation since the Taliban took power in 2021. Another round of talks is scheduled for October 25 in Istanbul to finalize details and ensure implementation.
According to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the aim of the next phase is to make the truce sustainable and verifiable.
The clashes, which left dozens dead and more than a hundred injured, erupted after Islamabad accused militants operating from Afghan soil of cross-border attacks. Kabul denied the claim, accusing Pakistan of violating its sovereignty through airstrikes.
Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. The Taliban government alleges Pakistan continued air raids that killed civilians, while Islamabad insists its strikes targeted militant bases based on “confirmed intelligence.”
In protest, Afghanistan withdrew from a planned T20 tri-nation cricket series in Pakistan, citing the killing of three local cricketers in recent airstrikes.
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