Afghanistan, Pakistan to hold peace talks in Doha after ceasefire extension

Afghanistan and Pakistan are scheduled to hold peace talks in Doha on Saturday following an extension of a ceasefire after days of heavy fighting along their shared border, Reuters reports.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the talks, stating, “As promised, talks with the Pakistani side will be held in Doha today.”

A high-level Afghan delegation led by Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob has already departed for Doha to participate in the discussions.

On October 17, both countries agreed to extend their initial 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of the planned talks. Kabul has instructed its forces to maintain the truce as long as Pakistan refrains from any attacks, Mujahid added. The temporary truce, first implemented on October 15, paused several days of fierce fighting that resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.

The recent clashes saw former allies Islamabad and Kabul engage in intense ground combat, with Pakistan also carrying out airstrikes across the contested frontier, before the initial 48-hour ceasefire was established.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the country’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the interim Taliban government in Kabul, provided that Islamabad’s security concerns are addressed. “They [the Afghan authorities] requested a ceasefire. If they genuinely want to resolve matters peacefully, we are ready. The ball is now in their court,” Sharif said.

Sharif also accused the Afghan Taliban regime of harbouring members of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and fugitives from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), whom Pakistan holds responsible for a recent surge in militant attacks inside the country.

According to Islamabad, the 48-hour ceasefire was intended to provide space for both sides to “find a positive solution… through constructive dialogue.” The upcoming talks in Doha are seen as a crucial step toward de-escalation and the potential restoration of long-term stability along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

By Tamilla Hasanova