Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a swift ceasefire agreement during peace negotiations held in Doha, Qatar, as announced by the Qatari foreign ministry on Sunday. The talks, facilitated by Turkey, are aimed at putting an end to a week of intense border clashes that resulted in numerous casualties and injuries.
Both sides have agreed, according to Qatar’s statement, to convene further meetings in the upcoming days to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and enduring manner.
The discussions follow a series of border skirmishes that led to significant casualties, marking the most severe confrontation between the two neighboring countries since the Taliban regained power in Kabul in 2021. Afghan officials confirmed the participation of a Kabul delegation led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob in the Doha talks, while Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif engaged in discussions with Taliban representatives.
Pakistan’s foreign office highlighted that the talks primarily focused on immediate actions to combat cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan directed towards Pakistan, with the aim of restoring peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.
The escalation of violence ensued after Islamabad urged Kabul to control militants who were increasingly launching attacks in Pakistan from safe havens across the border. The Taliban refuted allegations of harboring militants and accused Pakistan of disseminating misinformation and supporting groups linked to the Islamic State to destabilize Afghanistan. Islamabad dismissed these accusations, stating that militants have been conducting a prolonged campaign to overthrow the Pakistani government and enforce a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
In a separate incident on Friday, a suicide attack near the border resulted in the deaths of seven Pakistani soldiers and injuries to 13 others. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, emphasized the need for the Afghan government to rein in proxy groups utilizing Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
Despite the ceasefire, Afghanistan claimed that Pakistan conducted airstrikes targeting civilians shortly after the truce was extended on Friday. Kabul instructed its fighters not to retaliate to preserve the negotiation process. Afghanistan also withdrew from a planned tri-nation T20 series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka following the deaths of three Afghan domestic cricketers in Paktika province due to the strikes.
Afghanistan was scheduled to participate in the tri-series with Sri Lanka in Lahore and Rawalpindi from November 5 to 29. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the airstrikes, stating that they targeted verified militant camps and resulted in the deaths of over 100 militants, refuting claims of civilian casualties.
The ceasefire brokered in Doha represents a crucial advancement in alleviating tensions and establishing long-term stability along the 2,600-km Pakistan-Afghanistan border.