Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after several days of negotiations in Doha, Qatar, following a week of deadly clashes along their shared border. Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed the breakthrough this week, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring calm between the two neighbors. The talks, hosted by Qatar and supported by Turkey, were aimed at defusing one of the most serious escalations between Islamabad and Kabul since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. According to officials, the ceasefire deal was reached after days of intense discussions. The agreement includes plans for follow-up meetings to monitor the truce and ensure both sides uphold their commitments.
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Afghanistan’s delegation was led by Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, the son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar. Pakistan’s team was headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Both delegations met under Qatari mediation to discuss ways to reduce tensions, prevent cross-border incidents, and lay the groundwork for longer-term cooperation. In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the talks focused on ending “cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan soil” and on ensuring peace along the volatile frontier. Islamabad has repeatedly accused militant groups operating from inside Afghanistan of carrying out attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
The Taliban government, however, rejects those accusations. Kabul insists that no armed groups are allowed to use Afghan territory to attack another country, accusing Pakistan instead of spreading misinformation and, at times, supporting groups linked to the Islamic State to destabilize Afghanistan. Islamabad has strongly denied those claims. The recent round of violence began earlier this month after Pakistan demanded that the Taliban rein in militants suspected of staging attacks across the border. The situation worsened last week when a suicide bomber struck near a border outpost, killing seven Pakistani soldiers and injuring more than a dozen others.
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Following the attack, Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, warned that the Afghan leadership must prevent its territory from being used by militant proxies. “The Afghan regime must control those who find sanctuary on their soil and are responsible for attacks inside Pakistan,” he said during a military ceremony on Saturday. The truce, initially agreed upon earlier in the week, was briefly extended during the talks. However, Afghan officials accused Pakistan of launching airstrikes inside Afghan territory just hours after the extension was announced. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the strikes hit civilian areas in Paktika province. He warned that Kabul reserved the right to respond, though he said Afghan forces were ordered not to retaliate while peace talks were still underway.
In response, the Pakistani military said its air operations targeted “verified militant camps” near the border and denied any civilian casualties. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X that more than 100 militants had been killed in recent operations, including those linked to Friday’s suicide bombing. The growing tensions also spilled over into sports. The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced it would pull out of a planned T20 tri-series in Pakistan next month, citing the deaths of three local players allegedly killed in the reported airstrikes.
Despite the bitterness, the latest announcement of a ceasefire has been widely welcomed. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called the move “a step in the right direction” and urged both sides to work toward lasting stability. Qatar, which played a central mediating role alongside Turkey, expressed hope that the truce would “help end tensions between the two brotherly countries and lay a foundation for sustainable peace in the region.” Turkey’s foreign ministry issued a similar statement, praising both sides for showing restraint and prioritizing dialogue.
Oman also welcomed the agreement, referring to Afghanistan as a “friendly nation.” Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad described the development as “good news from Doha,” adding that continued diplomacy would be key to preventing another cycle of violence. While the ceasefire offers a temporary reprieve, both Pakistan and Afghanistan face the challenge of turning this fragile pause into a lasting peace along one of the region’s most volatile borders.
