After five days, Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to continue the ceasefire

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend the ceasefire following negotiations in Istanbul, which were mediated by Turkey and Qatar. This is according to a joint statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

“All parties have agreed to introduce a monitoring and control mechanism to ensure that peace is maintained and to impose sanctions on the violating party,” the statement said after the talks, which took place from October 25 to 30.

This month, fighting on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan claimed dozens of lives – the most serious escalation since 2021. Both sides agreed to a ceasefire in Doha, Qatar, on October 19.

Nevertheless, five Pakistani soldiers and 25 Pakistani Taliban fighters were killed in fighting last weekend. The Pakistani defense minister warned that the failure of the negotiations could lead to “open war.”

(reuters, max)