After weeks of deadly clashes, artillery fire, and closed borders that pushed Pakistan and Afghanistan to the brink of war, the two neighbours have finally stepped back. On Thursday, both sides agreed to a ceasefire after intense peace talks in Istanbul, a diplomatic breakthrough many thought was impossible.
Turkey announced the deal after days of negotiations, where Afghan and Pakistani representatives finally committed to stopping hostilities. The fighting in October had been among the worst since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021, with Pakistani airstrikes hitting Afghan territory, Afghan forces firing back, and key border crossings for trade shut down, crippling both economies.
According to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, delegations from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Qatar met in Istanbul between October 25 and 30 to strengthen the fragile truce first discussed in Doha earlier this month. “All parties have agreed on continuation of ceasefire,” the ministry said, a statement carrying huge weight after how close both countries came to open war.
Next Round of Peace Talks Set for November 6
The next step comes on November 6, when officials will meet again in Istanbul to discuss how the ceasefire will be enforced. Turkey and Qatar have promised to keep working with both sides to ensure peace holds, signaling that the world will be watching closely.
Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the end of the negotiations, stating that both sides had agreed to hold further talks in the future.
How did the conflict begin?
The crisis began after a series of deadly explosions in Kabul in early October. The Taliban government accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes that killed civilians, claims Islamabad strongly denied. In response, Pakistan warned Afghanistan to take action against cross-border militants operating from its territory, rekindling long-standing tensions between the two sides. The confrontation quickly escalated with cross-border firing between the two armies and the closure of key trade routes, further straining already fragile relations.
Heavy Casualties on Both Sides
In the following cross-border attacks, Pakistan’s military reported eliminating over 200 Afghan combatants, while Afghan officials claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani troops.
