Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree to Immediate Ceasefire Along Their Shared Border

Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a long-awaited ceasefire agreement after a week of intense clashes along their 2,600km (1,600-mile) border. The deal, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, aims to establish mechanisms for lasting peace and stability between the two countries. The agreement comes after Islamabad accused Kabul of providing safe haven to armed groups, including the Taliban Pakistan (TTP), linked to attacks inside Pakistan.

The ceasefire agreement marks a significant shift in the region, as both countries have committed to refraining from hostile actions against each other's security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure. The deal also paves the way for follow-up meetings between the delegations to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation.

**Key Takeaways:**

  • The immediate ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan was mediated by Qatar and Turkey, marking a significant shift in regional dynamics.
  • The two countries have agreed to stop fighting and work towards establishing mechanisms for lasting peace and stability.
  • Islamabad has accused Kabul of providing safe haven to armed groups, including the Taliban Pakistan (TTP), linked to attacks inside Pakistan.
  • The ceasefire agreement paves the way for follow-up meetings between the delegations to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation.
  • Pakistan wants the Taliban to rein in armed groups such as the TTP and other groups blamed for carrying out attacks on its territory.
  • Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have soured over the surge in attacks inside Pakistan, with Islamabad blaming Kabul for providing safe haven to the TTP.
  • The TTP has re-emerged as one of Pakistan's biggest national security threats, conducting over 600 attacks against Pakistani forces in the past year.
  • The violence attributed to the TTP has seen a 46 percent surge in the first three quarters of 2025 compared with last year.

**Statistics:**

  • At least 2,414 deaths have been recorded in the first three quarters of 2025 in violence attributed to the TTP, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
  • The TTP has conducted over 600 attacks against Pakistani forces in the past year, according to a report by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED).
  • The violence attributed to the TTP has seen a 46 percent surge in the first three quarters of 2025 compared with last year, according to the CRSS.
  • The TTP's deadliest attack came in December 2014, when they targeted the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, killing more than 130 students.

**Sources:**

  • Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
  • Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
  • Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson
  • Abdullah Baheer, a political analyst based in Kabul
  • Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED)
  • Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS)