Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Ceasefire After Border Clashes
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following days of intense border fighting that left dozens dead and hundreds injured, officials from both countries confirmed on Sunday.
The truce, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, aims to pause hostilities that have severely disrupted life along the volatile frontier. The agreement was reached during talks held in Doha and signed by representatives of both governments.
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the two countries committed to halting “all hostile actions,” including any support for armed groups carrying out attacks across the border. “Both sides will refrain from targeting each other’s security forces, civilians or critical infrastructure,” he said, adding that a review mechanism under international mediation would be established to monitor compliance and handle future disputes.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the deal on social media, writing that “cross-border terrorism from Afghan territory will cease immediately” and that both nations would respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that a follow-up meeting between delegations would take place in Istanbul on October 25 to discuss implementation details.
The agreement comes after weeks of escalating violence along the Durand Line, the 2,611-kilometre border that Afghanistan has never formally recognised. The clashes closed both the Chaman and Torkham crossings, key trade and transit points, stranding thousands of travellers and disrupting commerce.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have surged in recent months, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban government of sheltering militants from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks inside Pakistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Kabul denies the allegations, saying it does not permit its territory to be used for cross-border violence.
The renewed fighting, some of the deadliest since 2022, has deepened the humanitarian crisis along the border, where local populations depend heavily on trade and seasonal movement.
Diplomatic sources in Doha said the ceasefire reflects growing pressure from regional actors, particularly Qatar and Turkey, to stabilize relations between the two neighbours amid fears of wider instability in South and Central Asia.
Roots of the conflict
Relations between Afghanistan’s Taliban government and Pakistan have deteriorated sharply in 2025, driven by escalating border clashes, refugee disputes, and mutual security accusations. What was once a fragile partnership has now devolved into one of the region’s most dangerous standoffs.
Fighting has flared repeatedly along the Durand Line, particularly near the Torkham and Spin Boldak/Chaman crossings, after Taliban forces dismantled sections of Pakistan’s border fence. Kabul continues to reject the Durand Line as an international boundary, accusing Islamabad of encroaching on Afghan territory. In response, Pakistani forces have deployed artillery and armored units to reinforce key sectors, prompting frequent exchanges of fire.
The crisis has deepened amid Pakistan’s mass deportation campaign targeting undocumented Afghan nationals. More than 1.5 million Afghans have been ordered to leave the country, a move Kabul has condemned as “collective punishment.” The sudden influx of returnees has placed heavy strain on western Afghan provinces, hardening Taliban rhetoric against Islamabad.
Security concerns have added another layer of confrontation. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants responsible for a wave of attacks inside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The Taliban denies the charges and insists the TTP issue is rooted in Pakistan’s internal politics. Several high-casualty attacks this year—claimed by TTP—have intensified pressure on Islamabad to demand action from Kabul.
