Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to ceasefire, further talks to be held in Istanbul

During talks in Doha on Saturday, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire. This follows a week of fierce border clashes, which were the worst violence between the two countries since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021.

Pakistan's defense minister said on social media on Sunday that the ceasefire agreement between the South Asian neighbors was “finalized” and that both sides would meet again in Istanbul on October 25 to discuss “detailed issues.”

Long-standing tensions escalated with attacks on Kabul during the week. Representatives of the Taliban blamed Pakistan for this.

The group, which de facto rules Afghanistan, then launched an offensive on the shared border. A temporary ceasefire has been in place since Wednesday.

(reuters, max)