Representatives of Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed on an immediate ceasefire on the border during a round of talks organized by Qatar and Turkey held in Doha on October 18, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced.
“During the round of talks, the parties agreed on an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to establish peace and strengthen stability between the two countries“, said a statement published on the website of the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
The agreement was signed by the defense ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid and Khawaja Asif, as well as representatives of Qatar and Turkey. The delegations of the warring parties agreed to hold consultations in the coming days with the aim of preserving and fully respecting the ceasefire.
On the morning of October 15, armed clashes resumed on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. According to PTV, the Pakistani army struck terrorist positions in Afghanistan in response to an attack on checkpoints in Kurram in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Afghan government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported 12 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
Later on Wednesday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced a 48-hour ceasefire, which came into effect at 16:00 Bulgarian time that day.
On October 16, Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Al Jazeera that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire by shelling Afghan territory with mortars.
On October 17, the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, citing its own source, reported that the ceasefire had been extended. On Saturday, Mujahid announced that representatives of the two sides would hold talks in Doha to resolve the border conflict.