Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban government have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after more than a week of intense border clashes, marking a significant de-escalation in the worst fighting between the two nations since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The agreement, mediated by Qatar and Turkey during talks in Doha, commits both sides to halt hostilities and work towards lasting peace, with the Taliban pledging not to support groups that carry out attacks against Pakistan.
The clashes erupted on October 10 after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes on its capital, Kabul, which Islamabad denied, instead alleging that the Taliban harbors the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militant group. In response, Afghan forces fired on Pakistani border posts, leading to a cycle of mortar fire and drone strikes that killed dozens of fighters and civilians on both sides. A temporary 48-hour truce was declared on Wednesday but was repeatedly violated, with cross-border attacks continuing into the weekend.
Casualties have been significant, with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reporting at least 17 Afghan civilians killed and hundreds wounded as of Thursday. In a particularly tragic incident, the Afghanistan Cricket Board stated that eight people, including three local cricket players, were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province on Friday, prompting Afghanistan to withdraw from an upcoming T20I tournament involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The ceasefire agreement, announced early Sunday by Qatar’s foreign ministry, includes commitments from both sides to refrain from targeting each other’s security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure. Crucially, the Taliban agreed not to “support groups carrying out attacks against the Government of Pakistan,” addressing a key demand from Islamabad. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described the deal as meaning “terrorism from Afghanistan on Pakistan’s soil will be stopped immediately.”
Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have deteriorated sharply in recent years, despite Pakistan’s historical role as a major backer of the Taliban during its insurgency against the US-backed Afghan government. The TTP has re-emerged as a severe threat to Pakistan, conducting over 600 attacks on Pakistani forces in the past year alone, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Pakistan alleges that the Afghan Taliban provides a safe haven for these militants, a claim the Taliban denies.
The mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey were crucial in brokering the ceasefire, with both countries playing neutral roles. Talks began on Saturday in Doha, attended by high-level delegations including Afghanistan’s Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob and Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. Despite the ongoing violence, the Taliban showed restraint by instructing its forces to refrain from new military operations to facilitate the negotiations.
Looking ahead, both sides are set to meet in Istanbul next week for further talks to consolidate the ceasefire and establish mechanisms for enduring peace and stability. However, the fragility of previous truces raises questions about whether this agreement will hold, given the deep-seated mistrust and ongoing militant activities. The international community, including the UN, has called for a permanent resolution to prevent further humanitarian crises.
This ceasefire represents a critical step towards reducing tensions in a volatile region, but its success will depend on both parties adhering to their commitments and addressing the root causes of the conflict, including the presence of militant groups and border disputes. If sustained, it could pave the way for improved diplomatic relations and regional stability, but any breakdown could lead to renewed violence with broader implications for South Asia.