Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following 13 hours of high-level negotiations in Doha, mediated by both Qatar and Turkey, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.
According to the report, the agreement comes after at least ten Afghan nationals were killed in Pakistani airstrikes earlier this month, prompting fears of further escalation between the two neighbours.
Confirming the development, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said both countries had pledged to immediately halt cross-border hostilities and respect each other’s territorial sovereignty.
He added that a follow-up meeting between delegations from both sides will be held on October 25 in Istanbul.
“Terrorism on Pakistani soil conducted from Afghanistan will immediately stop,” said Asif on social media. “Both neighbouring countries will respect each other’s sovereignty.”
According to security sources in Islamabad, the recent Pakistani airstrikes were carried out in response to an attack on paramilitary forces and targeted militants affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan claims is being sheltered inside Afghanistan, a charge the Taliban government continues to deny.
Qatar’s foreign ministry, in a statement early Sunday, confirmed the ceasefire and said both parties had agreed to develop mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of peace and stability between the two countries.
The ministry also said further meetings would take place in the coming days to monitor compliance and reinforce de-escalation efforts.
The Pakistani delegation in Doha included senior officials, notably intelligence chief General Asim Malik, while the Afghan side was led by Taliban Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob.
Cross-border tensions reached a boiling point after a deadly flare-up on October 11, days after twin explosions rocked Kabul during a landmark visit by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India.
Following those events, Taliban forces reportedly launched an aggressive offensive along southern stretches of the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the ceasefire, stating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that Taliban fighters had been ordered to hold fire "to maintain the dignity and integrity of its negotiating team".
On the ground, the situation began stabilising by late Saturday. Saadullah Torjan, a local minister in Spin Boldak, southern Afghanistan, reported: “For now, the situation is returning to normal.”
Pakistan's foreign ministry had earlier stated that the primary objective of the Doha talks was to end cross-border terrorism and restore peace and order along the volatile Pak-Afghan frontier.
Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor