Afghanistan, Pakistan agree to ceasefire after border clashes, talks set for November 6

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid

Days after peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan broke down, Turkey announced on Thursday that both sides have agreed to maintain a ceasefire and will resume negotiations on November 6.

In a joint statement issued by Turkey, which mediated the talks along with Qatar, officials said the discussions were held between October 25 and 30. “All parties have agreed on continuation of the ceasefire,” the statement said, adding that a monitoring and verification mechanism would be set up to ensure compliance and penalise violations.

The breakthrough comes after an earlier round of talks aimed at easing border tensions collapsed. Islamabad has demanded that Kabul prevent its territory from being used to launch attacks against Pakistan.

Tensions between the two neighbours flared earlier this month after explosions in Kabul, with the Taliban accusing Pakistan of conducting airstrikes in the Afghan capital. The incident coincided with Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India.

In retaliation, the Taliban claimed to have targeted Pakistani military posts, alleging 58 soldiers were killed, though Islamabad confirmed 23 fatalities. Following intense clashes, both sides agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire that was later disrupted by further Pakistani airstrikes, which reportedly killed at least 10 people, including three local Afghan cricketers.

The latest round of emergency talks, facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, had ended without progress earlier this week. Pakistan has faced a surge in militant attacks in recent months, most of them claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group with close links to the Afghan Taliban.

*With AFP inputs