Doha, October 19, 2025 — Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a fresh wave of deadly cross-border hostilities that left at least ten people dead, including three Afghan cricketers. The breakthrough came after intensive negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The talks were held after Pakistan’s military launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan’s Paktika province on Saturday, reportedly targeting militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghan officials said the strikes killed ten civilians, including two children and three members of the national cricket team, and injured a dozen others.
The Taliban accused Islamabad of violating a previous 48-hour truce that had briefly eased tensions after nearly a week of fierce border clashes—the worst since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Afghan Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund condemned the attacks, telling his Malaysian counterpart that Pakistan had violated Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, reiterating that “Afghanistan is not in favour of war.”
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who led Islamabad’s delegation in Doha, confirmed the ceasefire agreement and said that “terrorism on Pakistani soil from Afghanistan will immediately stop.” He added that the two sides are set to reconvene in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 25 to review progress and reinforce the truce.
Pakistan’s team also included intelligence chief General Asim Malik, while the Afghan delegation was headed by Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob, according to the Taliban’s Defence Ministry. Islamabad described the negotiations as an effort to “end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”
In the aftermath of the strikes, Asif declared that “all Afghans living in Pakistan must return to their homeland,” asserting that “the era of old relations with Afghanistan is over.”
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), mourning the deaths of three players, announced its withdrawal from the upcoming T20 tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, originally scheduled for November 17.
Rising Tensions Amid Regional Power Shifts
The latest violence erupted as Afghanistan’s foreign minister visited India, underscoring the broader regional implications of the conflict. Both sides engaged in heavy exchanges along the disputed frontier, with Islamabad deploying air power and ground troops. Each side blamed the other for repeated ceasefire violations.
Pakistan continues to accuse the Taliban-led government of harbouring militants responsible for attacks within its territory—particularly the TTP—while Kabul has rejected the allegations, insisting that Pakistan’s internal security failures are of its own making.
India weighed in on the escalating crisis, accusing Pakistan of “nurturing terrorist organisations” and attempting to deflect blame for its domestic instability. New Delhi reaffirmed support for Afghanistan’s right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, tensions remain high along the rugged border. Both sides have agreed, under Qatari and Turkish supervision, to establish a monitoring mechanism aimed at preventing renewed hostilities and fostering dialogue toward a lasting peace.
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