Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to ceasefire after Doha talks

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire after talks hosted in Doha, with Qatar announcing the breakthrough late Sunday. The dialogue, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, is aimed at easing recent hostilities along the shared frontier and setting up a framework to prevent future flare-ups.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who led Pakistan’s delegation, confirmed that both sides pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty and will meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to develop a permanent mechanism for peace and verification. He said the understanding includes a halt to cross-border terrorism targeting Pakistani territory.

In Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar lauded the development as a first step in the right direction and called for a verifiable monitoring system to ensure the truce holds. He emphasised the need to prevent further loss of life while acknowledging the role of Qatar and Turkiye in facilitating the talks.

The ceasefire follows weeks of heightened tensions, including deadly clashes and precision strikes targeting militant strongholds. Pakistani officials have accused groups operating from Afghan soil of orchestrating attacks, while the Afghan side has raised its own concerns. The two countries share a porous border of roughly 2,500 kilometres that has long complicated security and trade.

Officials say the Istanbul follow-up will focus on mechanisms to enforce the ceasefire, share intelligence, and address militant sanctuaries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signalled readiness for talks on reasonable terms, framing the truce as an opportunity to stabilise a region hit by cyclical violence since 2021.