DOHA/ISLAMABAD/TEHERAN - Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during a round of negotiations held in the Qatari capital of Doha, according to a statement by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
The talks, mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, led the two sides to reach an agreement on ending hostilities and establishing mechanisms aimed at fostering lasting peace and stability between the two neighboring countries, the statement said.
The statement added that the two parties also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the durability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner, contributing to achieving security and stability in both countries.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed hope that this step would help ease border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and lay a solid foundation for sustainable peace in the region.
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Pakistan's Foreign Ministry earlier said on Saturday that a high-level Pakistani delegation will hold discussions with representatives of Afghanistan in Doha to address ongoing issues between the two sides.
The ministry said that the Pakistani delegation, led by the country's Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif, will seek measures aimed at ending cross-border terrorism and restoring stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The ministry also expressed appreciation for Qatar's mediation efforts and said Islamabad hopes the discussions would contribute to broader regional peace and security.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to exercise self-restraint, stop clashes, and resolve differences through dialogue.
He made the remarks during a phone call with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, expressing concern over recent developments in the region and border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
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Araghchi stressed that continued tensions between the two Muslim countries would lead to more casualties and compromise the entire region's stability, voicing Iran's readiness to help de-escalate tensions and facilitate "constructive" dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Afghanistan's foreign minister, for his part, said the country prefers the path of dialogue and peace over military conflicts.
The two sides also highlighted the importance of improving bilateral relations, ensuring security along the Iran-Afghanistan border, and preventing foreign interference in the regional countries' internal affairs. They called for continued dialogue and enhanced coordination to promote peace and stability in the region, according to the statement.
The clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan erupted after the Taliban launched "retaliatory" attacks last week against Pakistani soldiers along the shared border, following explosions in Afghan territory on Oct 9, which the Taliban-run defense authorities attributed to Pakistan.
Pakistan did not claim responsibility for the blasts, but accused the Taliban of giving refuge to members of the Pakistani Taliban, "who attack Pakistan."
Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday issued separate statements announcing a ceasefire after days of cross-border exchanges of fire.
