Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to hold new talks in Qatar to build a framework for lasting peace. Both nations aim to end a week of deadly border clashes that killed dozens. They accepted an immediate ceasefire after discussions with Qatari mediators in Doha, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.
The agreement ends a week of cross-border violence that claimed dozens of lives and injured hundreds. It marked the most serious crisis between the two countries in recent years. Both sides committed to creating mechanisms to ensure stability and to continue discussions in the coming days to preserve the truce. Qatari officials confirmed that Turkish negotiators also helped secure the deal.
Escalation and Retaliation Along the Border
Violence intensified this month as each side blamed the other for aggression. Afghanistan denied accusations of harbouring militants responsible for border attacks, a major concern for Islamabad. Pakistan has struggled with rising militancy near its western frontier since 2021, when the Taliban regained control in Kabul.
The renewed fighting has threatened regional security, with extremist groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda attempting to reemerge. On Friday, hours after a 48-hour truce expired, Pakistan launched airstrikes across the border into Afghanistan’s Paktika province. Islamabad said it targeted Hafiz Gul Bahadur group militants and eliminated dozens of fighters without harming civilians.
Pakistani officials said the strikes responded to a suicide bombing at a security compound in Mir Ali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the previous day. Taliban authorities, however, reported that the raids killed at least ten civilians, including women, children, and local cricket players near the strike sites.
Fallout and Longstanding Disputes
The attacks led Afghanistan’s cricket board to boycott an upcoming tournament in Pakistan. The International Cricket Council expressed grief over the deaths of three young Afghan players. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned Pakistan’s actions as repeated violations of Afghan sovereignty and accused Islamabad of intentionally prolonging the conflict.
Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, urged Afghanistan to prioritise “mutual security over perpetual violence” and to restrain militant proxies operating from its soil. Both nations sent senior delegations to Doha for continued negotiations aimed at de-escalation.
The two neighbours share a 2,600-kilometre frontier known as the Durand Line. Afghanistan refuses to recognise it, viewing it as a colonial imposition from 1893 that divided Pashtun communities. Kabul instead recognises the 1947 boundaries, which claim large portions of Pakistani territory. This long-standing dispute has fuelled decades of cross-border clashes and militant activity.
