Pakistan and Afghanistan Reach ‘Immediate Ceasefire’ Agreement Post-Doha Negotiations: Qatar Reports
Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement for an "immediate ceasefire" after talks held in Doha, as announced by Qatar's foreign ministry. This development comes in the wake of a week marked by deadly border clashes between the two neighboring countries.
The ministry announced that a ceasefire was facilitated during negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey on Saturday.
Both parties have agreed to conduct subsequent meetings aimed at ensuring the durability of the ceasefire and verifying its effective and lasting implementation.
The accord was reached following some of the most severe episodes of violence between the nations since the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, resulting in dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
A meeting took place in Doha between delegations from Afghanistan and Pakistan, headed by the Taliban’s Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob and Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, to discuss strategies for reducing tensions.
The border spanning 2,600 kilometers, a longstanding source of tension between the two nations, witnessed Pakistani airstrikes and intense ground combat last week. This escalation followed Islamabad’s allegations that Kabul was providing sanctuary to militants responsible for a recent increase in attacks on Pakistani forces.
Afghanistan has firmly denied allegations, accusing Pakistan’s military of disseminating “misinformation” and providing sanctuary to militants linked to Daesh to undermine Kabul’s sovereignty. Islamabad has robustly refuted these accusations.
On Saturday, Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reiterated accusations, asserting that the Afghan regime needs to control the proxies with sanctuaries in Afghanistan, who are utilizing Afghan territory to carry out egregious attacks within Pakistan.
Tensions escalated on Friday following reports of an attacker killing seven Pakistani soldiers and injuring 13 others near the border. In response, Pakistani forces carried out strikes.
Afghan authorities reported that airstrikes in Paktika Province had targeted civilians and issued a warning that Kabul “reserved the right to respond.” However, they emphasized that their forces had been instructed to adhere to the commitments made in the Doha negotiations.
In the latest developments, Afghanistan has decided to withdraw from the upcoming Twenty20 tri-nation cricket series in Pakistan. This decision comes following reports that three Afghan players were killed in the recent strikes.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, justified the operation, stating that the strikes were directed at “verified militant camps,” ensuring no civilian targets were affected.
According to statements, over 100 militants have been eliminated, including those affiliated with the group responsible for last Friday’s attack.
Should the Doha ceasefire prove effective, it is anticipated to represent a move towards reducing tensions following years of suspicion and mutual accusations between Islamabad and Kabul.
