Taliban and Pakistan signed an immediate ceasefire agreement during peace talks in Doha, Qatar, following days of deadly cross-border clashes that left dozens of civilians dead and hundreds wounded.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced late Saturday that the agreement was reached after a high-level meeting brokered by Qatar and Turkey. The talks brought together Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid and Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
According to a joint statement, both sides committed to halting military engagements and de-escalating tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. The agreement also includes the creation of joint technical committees to monitor and implement the ceasefire, as well as plans for follow-up meetings to prevent future violations.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry called the agreement “an important step toward regional stability and mutual trust” and said it hopes the deal will lay the groundwork for lasting peace.
The ceasefire comes after a week of heightened tensions between Taliban and Pakistani forces, including artillery exchanges and reported airstrikes in multiple Afghan provinces. Pakistan launched airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktika provinces.
On Thursday, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said at least 37 civilians had been killed and 425 injured in recent cross-border attacks, mostly in eastern and southern provinces. The violence triggered regional concern and calls for restraint from international actors.
This agreement marks the highest-level direct engagement between Taliban and Pakistani defense officials since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
