ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following 13 hours of negotiations in Doha agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty and prevent further cross-border hostilities.
The breakthrough was announced by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who led the Pakistani delegation in the Qatar-mediated talks. Turkiye acted as a facilitator. Both sides will meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss a permanent framework for peace and stability.
According to PTV News, citing the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both countries have also agreed to establish a permanent mechanism. It aims to ensure sustained peace and coordination.
“Follow-up meetings will be held in the coming days to monitor implementation,” the ministry said. It added that the measures would “strengthen regional security and stability.”
پاکستان اور افغانستان کے مابین سیز فائر کا معاہدہ طے پاگیا۔ پاکستان کی سرزمین پہ افغانستان سے دھشت گردی کا سلسلہ فی الفور بند ھوگا۔ دونوں ھمسایہ ملک ایک دوسرے کی سرزمین کا احترام کریں گے الحمدوللہ
25اکتوبر کو استنبول میں دوبارہ وفود میں ملاقات ھو گی۔ اور تفصیلی معاملات بات ھوگی۔… pic.twitter.com/OKNbRuXEPU
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) October 18, 2025The Doha talks came amid escalating tensions along the Pak-Afghan border. Clashes in recent weeks left dozens dead and hundreds injured.
Hostilities erupted on October 11, when Afghan forces launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistani border posts. The assault resulted in the martyrdom of 23 Pakistani soldiers. It also led to the deaths of more than 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
پاکستان اور افغانستان کے درمیان فوری جنگ بندی پر اتفاق — مذاکرات دوحہ میں مکمل
اسلامی جمہوریہ پاکستان اور افغانستان کے درمیان دوحہ میں ہونے والے مذاکرات کے دوران دونوں ممالک نے فوری جنگ بندی پر اتفاق کر لیا۔
مذاکرات کی میزبانی ریاستِ قطر نے کی، جبکہ جمہوریہ ترکیہ نے ثالثی کا… pic.twitter.com/XedvDiSFAp
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) October 18, 2025Pakistan’s military responded with precision strikes inside Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul. The strikes targeted camps belonging to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and other militant factions.
Afghanistan claimed the strikes were “retaliatory.” They accused Pakistan of conducting earlier air operations — a claim Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied. Fighting flared again on October 14 near the Kurram border. It involved Taliban fighters and Fitna al-Khawarij, the term used by Pakistan to describe Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
Following multiple rounds of violence, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour temporary ceasefire on October 16. The Foreign Office (FO) said Pakistan does not seek escalation but expects the Afghan Taliban to take verifiable action. They want action against terrorist entities operating from their territory. “Pakistan appreciates the mediation efforts of Qatar and hopes these discussions contribute to peace and stability in the region,” the FO said in an official statement.
