Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree Immediate Ceasefire in Doha Talks Mediated by Qatar and Turkey

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire during peace talks hosted in Doha, Qatar, with Turkey also playing a mediating role, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. The negotiations aim to halt intense cross-border clashes that have killed dozens and wounded hundreds over the past week.

According to the official statement, both nations have committed to holding follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the sustainability and effective implementation of the ceasefire. The discussions come amid the worst confrontation between the two neighbours since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

A Kabul delegation, led by Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, and Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, representing Islamabad, took part in the talks. Pakistan’s foreign office stated that the dialogue focused on ending cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan and restoring peace along the Pak-Afghan border.

The recent violence escalated after Islamabad demanded Kabul rein in militant groups increasingly carrying out attacks on Pakistani soil. Afghanistan denied providing shelter to militants, accusing Pakistan of spreading misinformation and supporting Islamic State-linked groups to destabilize Afghanistan. Islamabad rejected the claims, insisting that militants sought to overthrow the Pakistani government.

The ceasefire follows a series of deadly incidents, including a suicide attack near the border that killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, emphasized that the Afghan regime must control proxy groups operating from Afghan territory.

Despite the truce, Afghanistan claimed Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting civilians, leading Kabul to withdraw from a tri-nation T20 cricket series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the deaths of three Afghan domestic players in Paktika province. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the strikes targeted “verified militant camps,” killing over 100 militants while rejecting claims of civilian casualties.

The Doha-mediated ceasefire marks a critical step toward easing tensions along the 2,600-km Pakistan-Afghanistan border and establishing a framework for long-term peace and stability between the two nations.