After weeks of deadly cross-border clashes, Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after high-level negotiations in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Türkiye. The breakthrough is being hailed as a crucial step toward restoring regional stability.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced early Sunday that both South Asian nations agreed to “the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries.”
The talks brought together Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik, and Afghanistan’s acting Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob.
According to the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement, both countries also agreed to hold follow-up meetings “to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner.”
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the agreement and announced that the next round of talks will take place in Istanbul on 25 October.
“Terrorism on Pakistani soil conducted from Afghanistan will immediately stop. Both neighbouring countries will respect each other’s sovereignty,” Asif posted on X.
Afghanistan’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also confirmed on X the signing of the agreement.
“It has been decided that neither country will undertake any hostile actions against the other, nor will they support groups carrying out attacks against the Government of Pakistan. Both sides will refrain from targeting each other’s security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure,” he wrote on Sunday.
He added, “In the future, a mechanism will be established, under the mediation of intermediary countries, to review bilateral claims and ensure the effective implementation of this agreement.”
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, welcomed the agreement, describing it as “a first step in the right direction”. He added, “Deeply appreciate the constructive role played by brotherly Qatar and Turkiye. We look forward to the establishment of a concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism in the next meeting to address the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil towards Pakistan.”
The Doha negotiations followed days of intense cross-border fighting, which left dozens of troops and civilians dead on both sides.
The violence escalated after Islamabad accused Kabul of harbouring the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an outlawed militant group it claims has been launching attacks from Afghan territory. Kabul denied the allegations and accused Pakistan of spreading misinformation and carrying out strikes inside Afghanistan.
Tensions peaked on Friday when a suicide attack near the border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13 others.
Qatar’s mediation, alongside Tûrkiye, has been widely praised for helping defuse tensions and reintroduce dialogue between the two countries.
