Islamabad, Oct 19: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to establish mechanisms aimed at ensuring lasting peace after days of deadly clashes along the border, officials said on Sunday. The violence left several soldiers, civilians, and militants dead on both sides.
The breakthrough came following talks between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Afghanistan’s acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob in Doha, facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye, according to a statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.
“Both sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire and establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability,” the statement said. Follow-up meetings are planned to ensure the truce’s implementation and sustainability.
The Doha talks were prompted by heightened tensions along the Pak-Afghan border, triggered by alleged Pakistani airstrikes near Kabul last week and repeated cross-border attacks by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan urged Afghan authorities to take “verifiable action” against TTP to address Islamabad’s security concerns.
Relations between the two neighbors have been strained since 2023 due to militants using Afghan soil for cross-border attacks. Recent clashes included a deadly TTP attack in Orakzai district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 11 military personnel.
The ceasefire agreement follows earlier temporary truce attempts and ongoing military operations. The latest violence also impacted cricket diplomacy, with Afghanistan withdrawing from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series with Pakistan after airstrikes killed several, including three Afghan cricketers.
Pakistan’s Army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir emphasized that Afghanistan must choose between “peace and chaos” by taking immediate action against terrorists. (Agencies)
