The Afghan Ministry of National Defence has provided a clarification regarding the recently signed ceasefire agreement with Pakistan, asserting that there are no undisclosed clauses beyond what was publicly disclosed by Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid during his media briefing.
In a statement released on X platform, the ministry emphasized that the agreement, which was reached in Doha with mediation from Qatar and Turkey, “contains nothing beyond what has already been explained.” The ministry refuted claims circulating on social media suggesting the existence of hidden terms.
“The agreement primarily focuses on ceasefire, mutual respect, refraining from attacks on each other’s security forces, civilians, and infrastructure, resolving disputes through dialogue, and preventing facilitation of attacks against each other,” the ministry stated. It emphasized that any additional terms beyond these are not valid.
The clarification from Afghanistan came in response to Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif labeling the ceasefire details as “classified,” whereas Kabul’s public disclosure seemed to contradict this assertion.
Afghan officials highlighted that the agreement is centered on promoting peace and restraint between the two nations. Both sides have reiterated their commitment to avoiding hostilities, promoting dialogue, and fostering positive relations. Additionally, the ministry confirmed the establishment of a joint monitoring mechanism involving the mediating countries to oversee implementation and address mutual grievances.
The ceasefire deal was achieved after intense negotiations in Doha, as announced by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry. The agreement follows a series of deadly border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, prompting both parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire.
According to Qatar’s statement, follow-up meetings will be held in the upcoming days to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation reliably. During the Doha talks, a Kabul delegation led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob engaged in discussions, while Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif held talks with Taliban representatives.
The discussions were prompted by border skirmishes that resulted in numerous casualties, marking the most severe confrontation between the neighboring countries since the Taliban’s resurgence in Kabul in 2021. The violence erupted after Islamabad demanded that Kabul take action against militants using havens across the border to launch attacks in Pakistan.
The Taliban refuted claims of harboring militants and accused Pakistan of disseminating misinformation and supporting Islamic State-affiliated groups to destabilize Afghanistan.