Doha — Following crucial negotiations, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire along their disputed border. The breakthrough came after mediation efforts led by Qatar and Türkiye aimed at de-escalating recent cross-border clashes.
Qatar’s Mediation and Ceasefire Announcement
According to Al Jazeera, the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday morning that both countries had agreed to a ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure lasting peace and stability. The two sides also decided to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to monitor and verify the implementation of the agreement.
Defense Ministers’ Meeting and Agreement Signing
Afghan Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob met with Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Doha, where the two officials signed the ceasefire agreement. According to the official statement, the agreement’s primary goal is to immediately halt cross-border terrorist activities and ensure peace and stability in the border regions.
Next Round of Talks Scheduled in Istanbul
The next round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks will take place on October 25 in Istanbul, hosted by Turkey. These talks will focus on counterterrorism measures and confidence-building initiatives. Both Qatar and Turkey played a crucial and constructive role in facilitating the successful dialogue. Pakistan expressed hope that this development would lay the foundation for lasting peace between the two brotherly nations.
Background: Recent Clashes and Air Strikes
Tensions between the two neighbors escalated after Islamabad accused Kabul of failing to curb militant groups allegedly operating from Afghan soil. The Taliban rejected these allegations, accusing Pakistan of spreading misinformation and providing sanctuary to certain armed groups.
Suicide Attack and Pakistan’s Response
On Friday, a suicide bombing near the border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others. In response, Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir urged the Afghan government to rein in militant groups using Afghan territory as safe havens to launch attacks on Pakistan.
Defense Minister Confirms Ceasefire
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Khawaja Asif confirmed the ceasefire agreement and said terrorist activities from Afghan soil into Pakistan would stop immediately. Both nations also pledged to respect each other’s sovereignty.
He added that the next meeting between the delegations would be held in Istanbul on October 25, and expressed Pakistan’s gratitude to Qatar and Turkey for their constructive and brotherly role in making the agreement possible.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.