Pakistan, Afghanistan extend ceasefire by a week after Turkey talks

The weeklong border conflict earlier this month had erupted after explosions in Afghanistan, which Kabul blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan responded with cross-border strikes, claiming to have killed more than 200 Afghan fighters. Afghan officials, in turn, said 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed. The clashes marked the most serious fighting between the neighbours since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021, according to Al Jazeera.

The truce

Mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkiye led to a ceasefire signed by the defence ministers of both nations on October 19 in Doha. The two countries, which share a 2,600-kilometre border according to Al Jazeera, held a second round of talks in Istanbul starting Saturday. However, discussions initially broke down on Wednesday after Islamabad demanded that Kabul take stronger action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban.

Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of providing safe haven to the TTP, which it blames for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has repeatedly denied the allegations.

Talks resumed on Thursday, leading to an agreement to maintain the ceasefire until the next round of negotiations.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the outcome, saying both sides had agreed to continue discussions in future meetings. Pakistan has not yet issued a statement.

Despite the truce, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains closed for over two weeks, disrupting trade and causing mounting losses for businesses on both sides. In Kandahar, Afghan cloth trader Nazir Ahmed told AFP that both nations were suffering economically. On the Pakistani side, Abdul Jabbar, a vehicle parts trader in Chaman, echoed the sentiment, as reported by Al Jazeera.