Ankara (Turkey), October 31 (Udaipur Kiran): Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to continue the ceasefire, following renewed mediation efforts led by Turkey and Qatar. The development comes after the second round of talks in Istanbul, which began last Saturday, had initially ended without a breakthrough.
According to a joint statement released by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday morning via its official X handle, both nations have consented to uphold peace and extend the ceasefire. The next key meeting is scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul, where both sides will discuss and finalize the “implementation mechanisms” of the ceasefire agreement.
The statement also confirmed that Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to establish a “monitoring and verification mechanism” to maintain peace and impose penalties on any party violating the truce.
Turkey and Qatar, acting as mediators, expressed appreciation for the “active contributions” from both delegations and reaffirmed their continued support to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. Both countries share close diplomatic ties with Pakistan, and Qatar has previously played a significant role in facilitating talks between the Afghan Taliban and NATO forces.
The latest agreement follows weeks of rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. The second round of peace talks in Istanbul had stalled after Pakistan raised concerns about cross-border terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil — a claim Afghanistan continues to deny. The four-day discussions ended in deadlock, prompting Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to issue a stern warning to Kabul.
The conflict traces back to October 11, when clashes broke out along the border. Subsequent diplomatic efforts in Doha led to a temporary ceasefire, with both sides agreeing to meet again in Istanbul to work on a framework for lasting peace.
After the mediation push from Turkey and Qatar on Thursday, both sides reconvened and have now agreed to maintain calm until the next round of talks.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
