<h3 data-start="209" data-end="273"><strong data-start="213" data-end="273">Pakistan and Afghanistan Reach Fragile Ceasefire in Doha</strong></h3>
<p data-start="275" data-end="598">After a week of intense cross-border clashes, <a title="Pakistan Afghanistan war" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/pakistan-warns-afghans-blames-india-for-tension/21059" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pakistan</a> and <a title="Afghanistan India" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/geo-politics/pakistan-summons-afghan-envoy-over-j-k-row/20647" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Afghanistan</a> have agreed to an immediate ceasefire during high-stakes negotiations held in Doha. The talks &mdash; facilitated by Qatar and Turkey &mdash; marked the first major diplomatic breakthrough since relations soured following the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover of Kabul in 2021.</p>
<p data-start="600" data-end="971">The agreement, finalised late on Saturday, comes after days of escalating violence that left dozens dead and hundreds wounded along the volatile 2,600-kilometre border. Defence ministers from both countries &mdash; Khawaja Muhammad Asif for Pakistan and Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob for Afghanistan &mdash; led the negotiations that aimed to defuse the worst hostilities in recent years.</p>
<p data-start="973" data-end="1380">According to official sources, both sides have agreed to meet again in Istanbul on 25 October to discuss the implementation details and monitoring mechanisms to ensure the ceasefire holds. Qatar&rsquo;s mediation, backed by Turkish diplomatic engagement, played a crucial role in bridging the gap between the two neighbours, each accusing the other of harbouring militants responsible for cross-border violence.</p>
<p data-start="973" data-end="1380">&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="973" data-end="1380"><strong>ALSO READ: https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/trump-warns-afghanistan-over-bagram-air-base/19601</strong></p>
<h3 data-start="1382" data-end="1406"><strong data-start="1386" data-end="1406">Blame and Denial</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1408" data-end="1822">Islamabad has repeatedly pressed Kabul to act against militant factions allegedly using Afghan soil to stage attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban, however, denies these claims, insisting that it does not allow any group to operate against its neighbours. Kabul, in turn, accuses Pakistan&rsquo;s military of conducting airstrikes on Afghan territory and spreading misinformation to undermine Afghanistan&rsquo;s sovereignty.</p>
<p data-start="1824" data-end="2141">In recent months, Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces have faced a surge in militant attacks, many attributed to groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). On Friday, a suicide blast near the frontier killed seven Pakistani soldiers and injured more than a dozen others &mdash; a flashpoint that pushed tensions to the brink.</p>
<p data-start="2143" data-end="2443">Pakistan&rsquo;s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, urged Kabul to &ldquo;rein in proxies using Afghan soil&rdquo; and to act against groups &ldquo;perpetrating heinous attacks&rdquo; inside Pakistan. His remarks came as Islamabad intensified its diplomatic outreach to regional partners to avoid a broader confrontation.</p>
<h3 data-start="2445" data-end="2492"><strong data-start="2449" data-end="2492">Regional Concerns and Mediation Efforts</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2494" data-end="2881">The Doha talks also drew attention from regional stakeholders including Saudi Arabia and Iran, both of which called for restraint and dialogue. Analysts say that continued instability between Pakistan and Afghanistan risks creating a vacuum that could be exploited by transnational jihadist groups like Islamic State Khorasan and Al-Qaeda, both of which have shown signs of resurgence.</p>
<p data-start="2883" data-end="3243">While the ceasefire offers a brief respite, it remains fragile amid deep mistrust and unresolved security concerns. For Qatar and Turkey, both of which have sought to mediate between rival Islamic governments, the challenge now lies in ensuring that this truce becomes a stepping stone toward long-term stability rather than a temporary pause in hostilities.</p>

Pakistan and Taliban ministers sign ceasefire in Doha

Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to halt cross-border hostilities after deadly clashes

Ceasefire Brings Fragile Calm to Afghan-Pak Border

Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to halt cross-border hostilities after deadly clashes

October 19, 2025 | 10:41 IST