Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a ceasefire along their border. The deal comes after Pakistani airstrikes that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians after a previous 48-hour ceasefire collapsed.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the two sides had agreed not only to immediately halt the fighting but also to develop mechanisms “for lasting peace and stability.” Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the agreement, adding that the next round of talks would be held in Istanbul on October 25th.
Tensions along the border have been rising since the Taliban took power in 2021. Pakistan says militant groups operating from Afghanistan, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have been carrying out attacks on Pakistani targets, a claim Kabul has consistently denied. Dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed in recent clashes, and the population along the border remains in a state of uncertainty.
Analysts say the current ceasefire can only bring temporary relief if it is not followed by lasting political dialogue and security cooperation between the two countries.
