Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to maintain a ceasefire as part of efforts to restore peace between the two neighboring countries.
According to a joint statement posted by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X on Friday, high-level delegations from both countries held a series of meetings in Istanbul from October 25 to 30, under the mediation of Turkey and Qatar.
The statement said the meetings aimed to strengthen the ceasefire reached between Afghanistan and Pakistan during the Doha talks on October 18–19. As a result, both sides have agreed to continue the truce and discuss further mechanisms for its implementation in a high-level meeting scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul.
It was also mentioned that all parties agreed to establish a verification mechanism to ensure accountability and punishment for any violations of the ceasefire, thereby reinforcing efforts toward peace.
Following the agreement, mediators Turkey and Qatar praised both sides for their active engagement and expressed readiness to continue supporting efforts toward lasting peace and stability in the region.
The latest round of talks in Istanbul took place amid rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Turkey and Qatar, both maintaining friendly relations with Pakistan, played a crucial role in facilitating the discussions. According to Dawn, Qatar had previously acted as a mediator during talks between the Afghan Taliban and NATO forces.
As Dawn further reported, Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban to prevent “terrorist groups from using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan,” an accusation the Taliban has denied. Several border clashes have occurred since the October 11 incident, and Pakistani strikes have reportedly targeted camps inside Afghanistan.
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