Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to ceasefire
Illustrative photo: fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan (Getty Images)
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha, according to a statement by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X.
"During the negotiations, the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries," Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The agreement was signed by the defense ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with representatives from Qatar and Türkiye.
Both sides also agreed to hold further meetings in the coming days to maintain and fully implement the ceasefire.
Pakistan had previously announced on October 15 that it had reached a temporary 48-hour truce with Afghanistan following cross-border clashes.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, both parties would "make sincere efforts to find a positive resolution to this complex but solvable issue through constructive dialogue.
The temporary agreement expired at 6 PM local time (4 PM Kyiv time) on October 17.
Background: Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict
Fighting between Afghan and Pakistani forces erupted along the border on October 15, marking the most intense clashes since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. Reports indicated that more than a dozen civilians and soldiers were killed.
The first skirmishes began on October 11, when Taliban fighters reportedly attacked Pakistani border posts. Pakistani officials described the assault as unprovoked shelling, to which their military responded "with full force." Clashes occurred in more than six locations.
Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by the Taliban’s so-called 201st Army Corps.
The escalation coincided with US discussions on a potential return of troops to Afghanistan. President Donald Trump stated that Washington seeks to regain control of the Bagram Air Base, a key strategic site in the region.
In response, Taliban Foreign Ministry representative Zakir Jalal said the group would not allow the US to reestablish control over the base.
Read more on why the Taliban attacked Pakistan and the latest situation along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border in RBC-Ukraine’s full report.
