Doha: Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to a swift halt in hostilities following a week of intense cross-border violence that left dozens dead and many more wounded, officials confirmed Sunday.
The agreement, announced by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the result of high-level talks held in Doha between Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Afghanistan’s Acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob. The dialogue was facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye in a bid to defuse rising tensions between the two neighbouring nations.
“Both parties committed to an immediate ceasefire and to the creation of a joint framework aimed at achieving long-term peace and stability,” the Qatari statement read.
The border region has seen a sharp escalation in violence in recent days, triggered by cross-border exchanges that followed reported Pakistani airstrikes near Kabul. The strikes, which Pakistan claimed were aimed at militant hideouts, resulted in civilian casualties and provoked further retaliatory actions.
Tensions reached a boiling point when a Pakistani military facility in North Waziristan came under attack, with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claiming responsibility. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP militants and demanded “verifiable” action to dismantle these networks operating from Afghan territory.
Talks in Doha, which began on Saturday, saw Pakistani officials urging Afghan leaders to honour international commitments and take meaningful steps to prevent cross-border terrorism. In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office welcomed the mediation efforts, saying it hoped the dialogue would pave the way for regional stability.
“Pakistan appreciates Qatar’s constructive role and looks forward to sustained engagement to address mutual concerns,” the Foreign Office said.
Tensions have also spilled into the cultural sphere. In the aftermath of recent airstrikes, which reportedly killed several Afghan civilians including three national cricketers, Afghanistan’s Cricket Board withdrew from a planned T20 triangular series involving Pakistan scheduled for November.
Relations between Kabul and Islamabad have remained fragile since 2023, with a surge in TTP-led violence worsening bilateral ties. A recent deadly ambush in Orakzai, which claimed the lives of 11 Pakistani soldiers including senior officers, added fuel to the fire.
While a temporary 48-hour ceasefire was announced earlier in the week and later extended, its fragility became apparent as Pakistan launched additional airstrikes late Friday night.
Despite this turbulent backdrop, both sides have agreed to hold further discussions in the coming days to solidify the truce and explore collaborative mechanisms to prevent future escalations. Observers remain cautiously optimistic, but stress that sustained political will and regional cooperation will be essential to transform this ceasefire into a lasting peace.
