Source : Al Jazeera
DOHA, QATAR Oct 19, 2025 – In a rare glimmer of détente amid escalating border skirmishes, Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, officials announced Saturday following marathon negotiations hosted by Qatar.
The breakthrough came after a week of intense clashes along the volatile 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) Durand Line border – the deadliest flare-up since the Taliban swept back into power in Kabul four years ago. Triggered by a suicide bombing that claimed seven Pakistani soldiers’ lives last Friday, the violence underscored long-simmering accusations: Islamabad charges Kabul with sheltering anti-Pakistan militants, while the Taliban retorts that Pakistan harbors ISIS affiliates and undermines Afghan sovereignty.
Leading the talks for the Taliban government was Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, who emphasized a commitment to “lasting peace and stability.” Pakistan’s delegation, headed by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, pressed for curbs on cross-border terrorism, with Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir demanding the Afghan regime “rein in proxies.” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the accord as a “significant step,” crediting mediation support from Turkiye.
Under the deal, both sides pledged to establish verification mechanisms and convene follow-up sessions in the coming days to lock in compliance. While details remain sparse, the agreement signals a potential thaw in ties frozen by mutual distrust since 2021.
For weary border communities, the pause offers fleeting relief – but skeptics warn that without tackling root grievances, like rebel safe havens and disputed fencing, this fragile truce could unravel as swiftly as it formed. As one analyst quipped: “In South Asia’s powder keg, ceasefires are easy; trust is the real explosive.”
