Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to immediate ceasefire during talks, says Qatar Foreign Ministry

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks hosted in Qatar’s Doha, the Qatari foreign ministry announced early Sunday. The negotiations, also mediated by Turkey, aim to end a week of intense border clashes that killed dozens and wounded hundreds.

According to Qatar’s statement, both sides agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days “to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner.”

The discussions come after border fighting killed dozens and wounded hundreds, marking the worst confrontation between the two neighbors since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Afghan officials confirmed that a Kabul delegation led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob participated in the Doha talks, while Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif led discussions with Taliban representatives.

Pakistan’s foreign office said the talks focused on “immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.” The violence began after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had increasingly carried out attacks in Pakistan from havens across the border.

The Taliban denies sheltering militants, accusing Pakistan of spreading misinformation and supporting Islamic State-linked groups to destabilize Afghanistan. Islamabad rejects the accusations, stating that militants have waged a long-running campaign to overthrow the Pakistani government and impose a strict form of Islamic rule.

On Friday, a suicide attack near the border killed seven Pakistani soldiers and wounded 13. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, said the Afghan regime must control proxy groups using Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

Despite the ceasefire, Afghanistan reported that Pakistan conducted airstrikes targeting civilians hours after extending the truce on Friday. Kabul said its fighters were ordered not to retaliate to maintain the negotiating process. In response to the strikes, Afghanistan withdrew from a planned Twenty20 cricket series in Pakistan after three Afghan players were killed in Paktika province.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes targeted “verified” militant camps and killed over 100 militants, rejecting civilian casualty claims. Reuters could not independently verify the figures or targets.

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

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With inputs from Reuters