Pak-Afghan border may reopen within 48 hours after ceasefire
“Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a ceasefire and are preparing to reopen Torkham and Chaman within 24–48 hours.”
Key points
- Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a ceasefire and are preparing to reopen Torkham and Chaman within 24–48 hours.
- The crossings were shut after October 12 attacks on Pakistani posts; Islamabad reported 23 soldiers martyred and over 200 militants killed.
- Talks in Doha paved the way for Sunday’s truce, with a follow-up meeting due in Istanbul on October 25.
- Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says both sides identified terrorism as the core issue and vowed joint efforts.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan are preparing to reopen their key border crossings within the next 24 to 48 hours, contingent on the current calm holding, officials with knowledge of the talks told Geo News.
The crossings at Torkham and Chaman were shut on October 12 after Afghan Taliban fighters, alongside allied militants, launched coordinated assaults on Pakistani border posts. Islamabad responded by tightening controls and mounting targeted operations, escalating a confrontation that left 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred and, according to security briefings, more than 200 Taliban and affiliated militants dead.
Mediation in Doha over recent days helped both sides agree to a fresh ceasefire on Sunday, following two earlier 48-hour pauses announced on October 15 and extended on October 17. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif publicly confirmed the truce and said delegations will reconvene in Istanbul on October 25 to work through “detailed matters”. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid separately affirmed the agreement and described it as a “complete and meaningful” halt to hostilities.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, Asif said both sides recognised terrorism as the principal driver of tensions along the frontier and agreed to cooperate to eliminate threats. He added that sustained peace would normalise cross-border movement, revive stalled trade and allow Afghanistan to resume using Pakistani ports.
Officials cautioned that reopening is conditional on the absence of fresh disputes at the crossings. The effort to stabilise the border remains part of a broader bid to de-escalate and prevent renewed flare-ups that could undercut the gains from the ceasefire.
Corrections & clarifications
Spot an inaccuracy or need more detail? Email connect@newsnexus24.com. Significant updates are timestamped above.
