'Lasting Peace And Stability': Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree To Ceasefire In Qatar Talks | Top Points

Last Updated:October 19, 2025, 07:10 IST

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an "immediate ceasefire" during a round of negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, after fresh strikes by Islamabad.

Afghan citizens waiting to return to their country as tensions escalated sharply between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (Reuters)

Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an “immediate ceasefire" during a round of negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, following fresh strikes conducted by Pakistan’s Army that escalated border hostilities on Saturday.

Qatar’s foreign ministry said both sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the countries. They also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire.

This came a day after Pakistan launched fresh airstrikes inside Afghanistan on Saturday, killing 10 people, including three Afghan cricketers. The Taliban accused Islamabad of breaking a 48-hour ceasefire that brought calm to the border after nearly a week of bloody clashes.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Ceasefire: Top Points

• Qatar and Turkey mediated the latest round of ceasefire negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan after recent clashes had killed dozens in the worst violence between the former allies since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
• Qatar’s foreign ministry said 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".
• Both sides accused each other of breaching the ceasefire earlier. Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who serves as the prime minister in the Taliban government, told his Malaysian counterpart that Pakistan violated Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and that “Afghanistan is not in favour of war."
• After attending the talks in Doha, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that a ceasefire agreement and said “terrorism on Pakistani soil from Afghanistan will immediately stop".
• Asif said the two sides would meet again in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 25. Pakistan’s foreign ministry earlier said that the Doha talks aimed to “end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border".
• Islamabad’s delegation also included intelligence chief General Asim Malik, while the Afghan delegation was headed by defence chief Mohammad Yaqoob, as per the Taliban defence ministry.
• At least 10 civilians were killed and 12 others were wounded on Saturday, an official of a provincial hospital told AFP. Two children were among the deceased Afghans.
• Taliban accused Islamabad of breaking a 48-hour ceasefire. “Pakistan has broken the ceasefire and bombed three locations in Paktika" province, a senior Taliban official told AFP. “Afghanistan will retaliate."
• Security sources in Islamabad said the strikes in the Afghan border areas targeted a militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban, in retaliation for an attack on Pakistani paramilitary troops.

Tensions Still High

The violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated dramatically last weekend as the Taliban’s foreign minister began a visit to India. Forces from both countries engaged in fierce fighting on the ground, while Islamabad also launched airstrikes along the contested border, with both sides claiming dozens of casualties.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led government of not doing enough to control militants, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who have intensified attacks within Pakistan and are allegedly being given shelter. In response, Kabul has rejected the accusations, stating that Pakistan is responsible for its own security.

This came after India reacted to the escalating conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, accusing Pakistan of hosting terrorist organisations, blaming its neighbours for internal failures, and being angered by Afghanistan asserting sovereignty over its own territory.

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international...

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