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Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree To Immediate Cease-Fire During Talks In Doha

By RFE/RL October 19, 2025

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate truce during talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced early October 19 on X.

"During the negotiations, the two sides agreed to an immediate cease-fire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries," the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also agreed to hold follow-up meetings, tentatively set for October 25 in Istanbul, to ensure that the cease-fire holds and to "verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner."

Afghanistan and Pakistan began the peace talks on October 18 in the Qatari capital of Doha after border clashes and attacks raised fears of an all-out war between the two countries.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban-led government's spokesman, announced earlier on X that the talks had begun and that Afghan Prime Minister Hassan Akhund had held discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke with the Malaysian prime minister, according to Mujahid. Anwar, who appeared to be acting as a mediator, "emphasized the need to resolve the issue through diplomatic means." Mujahid said.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said the talks aimed to "end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border."

Pakistan urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to honor their commitments to the international community and address Pakistan's "legitimate security concerns by taking verifiable action against terrorist entities."

Former US ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad -- who remains involved in the negotiation process -- wrote on X that the cease-fire represents "good news of joy."

"Due to the mediation of Qatar and Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached an agreement."

Residents living near the tense border welcomed the announced cease-fire and expressed hopes the move will lead to a permanent peace along the frontier.

"The war is over. We are very happy," a resident of the Momand Dara District in Afghanistan's Nangarhar Province told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on October 19.

"This cease-fire should be permanent because war destroys countries, war destroys people. We don't want war, and we hope this truce will be permanent," added the resident, who did not want to be named for security reasons.

A resident of Afghanistan's Nari District in the Kunar Province who gave his name as Mohammad Ali told Radio Azadi that his area had suffered a severe damage in the recent clashes but that everyone was now happy that the fighting had ended.

The recent violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been the worst since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.

The fighting between the one-time allies was triggered after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they operated from havens in Afghanistan.

The Taliban denies harboring militants to attack Pakistan and accuses the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan and sheltering Islamic State-linked militants. Islamabad denies the accusations.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Reuters, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-afghanistan-cease- fire-qatar-talks-taliban/33563572.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.