Ceasefire Reached Between Taliban and Pakistan After Deadly Clashes

Mon Oct 20 2025 01:20:30 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Following a week of violent confrontations, the Taliban and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire with aims to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.

After days of intense fighting along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, both the Taliban and Pakistani government have declared a ceasefire. The agreement, facilitated by Qatar, aims to halt hostilities following severe clashes and significant casualties. Both sides have committed to mechanisms that will promote cooperation and prevent future violence, especially targeting civilians and critical infrastructure.

Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban government have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after more than a week of deadly fighting.

The foreign ministry of Qatar, which mediated talks alongside Turkey, stated that both sides agreed to establish mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, emphasized the importance of ending hostile actions, while Pakistan's foreign minister labeled the agreement as the first step in the right direction.

Both sides claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties during the clashes, which have marked the worst fighting since the Taliban regained power in 2021.

Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of harboring armed groups that carry out attacks within its borders, claims the Taliban denies. Recent tensions escalated after Taliban officials alleged that Pakistan had undertaken attacks on the Afghan capital.

In response to the intensified conflict, the Taliban reportedly fired at Pakistani border posts, prompting Pakistan to retaliate with mortar fire and drone strikes. Civilian casualties were high, with reports indicating at least three dozen Afghan civilians lost their lives and hundreds more were wounded.

A temporary truce was declared during ongoing talks in Doha but did not hold as cross-border strikes continued. Following further escalation, the Taliban asserted that an airstrike by Pakistan resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including local cricket players.

Under the new ceasefire terms, the Taliban agreed not to support groups attacking the Pakistani government, and both sides pledged to refrain from targeting each other's security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure. Pakistan's Defense Minister welcomed the truce and indicated that terrorism stemming from Afghanistan into Pakistan would cease.

In the context of the historic relationship between the two nations, Pakistan was a significant supporter of the Taliban post-2001; however, relations have soured due to Islamabad's claims that the Taliban offers sanctuary to the Pakistan Taliban, responsible for numerous attacks.

Further discussions are planned in Istanbul as both parties aim to navigate the complex dynamics of their historical ties.