(Reuters, Islamabad/Kabul) Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have engaged in fierce clashes along their disputed border for the past week, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after negotiations.
The talks took place in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday (October 18). The next day, Pakistani Defense Minister Asif posted on social media that the ceasefire was "finalized" and that the two countries would meet again in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 25 to discuss specific matters in detail.
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah issued a statement saying the two sides had reached an agreement on a comprehensive and meaningful ceasefire.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry, which is mediating with Turkey, said subsequent talks will aim to "ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a credible and sustainable manner."
Border clashes between Afghanistan and Palestine over the past week have left dozens dead and hundreds injured, marking the worst violence between the two South Asian neighbors since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
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This conflict represents a culmination of long-simmering tensions between the two sides. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of allowing radical armed groups to establish a presence in Afghanistan, launching terrorist attacks against Pakistan in an attempt to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish a strict Islamic system of rule.
Afghanistan denies providing safe haven for militant groups and accuses the Pakistani military of spreading disinformation about Afghanistan. Afghanistan also accuses Pakistan of harboring militants affiliated with the Islamic State in an attempt to undermine Afghanistan's stability and sovereignty.
A suicide attack near the Afghan-Pakistani border on Friday killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others. Following the attack, Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Asim said the Afghan regime "must restrain those proxies who have found refuge in its territory and carried out heinous attacks against Pakistan."
A Taliban spokesman revealed that the two countries agreed during the Doha talks to refrain from hostile actions against each other, and that Afghanistan pledged not to provide assistance to groups targeting the Pakistani government.
