Pakistan 🇵🇰 and 🇦🇫 Afghanistan Agree on Immediate Ceasefire After Deadly Border Clashes
Doha, Qatar (Roshan Sindh News Desk) — October 20, 2025:
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a week of intense and deadly border clashes that left dozens dead and hundreds displaced.
The truce was reached during peace talks held in Doha, Qatar, with mediation support from Qatar and Turkey, according to official statements from both governments.
🔹 Escalation Along the Border
Tensions escalated earlier this month after Pakistan accused Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration of allowing militant groups to operate from its soil and launch attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denied the accusations, instead accusing Islamabad of conducting airstrikes that violated Afghan sovereignty.
The clashes — involving artillery shelling, airstrikes, and ground skirmishes — erupted along multiple points of the 2,600-kilometre border, including the Chaman and Torkham crossings, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
According to UN sources, at least 37 civilians have been killed since the violence began, with many more injured.
🔹 Terms of the Ceasefire
Under the Doha agreement, both countries have pledged to:
- Halt all hostile actions immediately.
- Avoid supporting militant groups operating against each other.
- Respect sovereignty and territorial integrity on both sides.
- Establish a monitoring mechanism to oversee implementation and prevent future violations.
Follow-up meetings are scheduled in Istanbul later this month to finalize long-term border security arrangements.
🔹 Statements from Both Sides
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif welcomed the agreement, calling it “a step toward regional stability” and urging the Afghan government to ensure that “cross-border terrorism ceases immediately.”
Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Taliban administration is committed to peace and emphasized that both countries “must focus on dialogue rather than confrontation.”
🔹 Humanitarian Impact
Trade and travel across the border were severely disrupted as key crossings were closed during the clashes. Local traders reported heavy losses, while humanitarian agencies warned of shortages of essential goods in border towns.
A resident from Chaman told Roshan Sindh News:
“We were living in fear for days. The ceasefire brings hope, but people need peace that lasts.”
🔹 What Comes Next
Analysts warn that while the ceasefire is a welcome step, deep mistrust remains. Long-standing issues such as border demarcation, militant sanctuaries, and refugee movement continue to strain relations between the two nations.
Observers also note that maintaining the ceasefire in the rugged and remote border terrain will be a major challenge.
🔹 Regional Significance
A lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan could pave the way for greater trade, connectivity, and stability across South and Central Asia. The involvement of Qatar and Turkey in the negotiations also highlights shifting diplomatic dynamics in the region.
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