By Mian Sohail Iqbal
ISLAMABAD/DOHA; Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement on an immediate ceasefire after marathon negotiations in Doha, pledging to respect each other’s sovereignty and prevent cross-border attacks, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Sunday.
The breakthrough came after two days of intense discussions between high-level delegations from both countries, hosted by Qatar and mediated by Turkiye.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while Mullah Yaqoob headed the Afghan Taliban team. The talks followed a series of deadly clashes along the Pak-Afghan border and Pakistani precision strikes against militant hideouts inside Afghanistan.
In a post on X, Khawaja Asif said: “A ceasefire agreement has been finalised. The terrorist attacks from Afghanistan on Pakistan’s soil will cease immediately. Both neighbouring countries will respect each other’s territory.”
He added that both sides will meet again in Istanbul on October 25 to hold further discussions.
Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar welcomed the development, describing it as “a step in the right direction.”
He also appreciated the constructive role played by Qatar and Turkiye, and expressed hope that the Istanbul meeting would establish a “concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism” to address terrorism originating from Afghan soil.
The Taliban government’s spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, confirmed the agreement, stating that both sides had signed a bilateral pact reaffirming their commitment to peace, mutual respect, and the maintenance of strong neighbourly ties.
Under the agreement, neither country will undertake hostile actions against the other nor support any groups carrying out attacks against Pakistan. Both sides agreed to refrain from targeting security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure.
A joint monitoring mechanism, with the involvement of intermediary countries, will be set up to oversee the implementation of the agreement. Mujahid reiterated that Afghanistan’s permanent position is not to allow its territory to be used against any country.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the agreement, noting that the negotiations lasted 13 hours and resulted in both sides deciding to establish a permanent mechanism for peace and stability.
The ceasefire comes after weeks of cross-border clashes. On October 11, Afghan forces launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistani border posts, killing 23 soldiers, while Pakistan responded with precision strikes, killing over 200 militants.
Skirmishes continued in Kurram and other border areas until a 48-hour temporary truce was brokered, which was later extended to facilitate the Doha talks.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have remained high since the TTP ended its ceasefire in late 2022, leading to a surge in cross-border attacks. Pakistan has consistently urged the Taliban to take action against militant groups using Afghan soil for terrorism, while Kabul insists it does not allow its territory to be used against any country.
