Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have agreed to continue the ceasefire following recent negotiations held in Istanbul. The joint statement was released by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirming that both sides have agreed to maintain the truce.
According to the communiqué, the operational framework and enforcement mechanisms of the ceasefire will be finalized during the next round of talks scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul. The latest negotiations, held from October 25 to 30 under the mediation of Turkey and Qatar, were aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire deal reached earlier in Doha on October 18–19.
The statement added that Pakistan and Afghanistan have also agreed to establish a joint mechanism for monitoring and verifying the ceasefire’s implementation, which will have the authority to impose penalties on any party found violating the agreement.
Turkey and Qatar praised both parties for their constructive engagement and reiterated their commitment to supporting peace and stability in the region.
A day earlier, Pakistan had agreed to resume peace talks with Afghanistan at Turkey’s request.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), rejected the Afghan delegation’s claim that members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were “Pakistani refugees” living on Afghan soil and simply returning home. He questioned how such “refugees” could be heavily armed and entering Pakistan through mountain routes instead of legal border crossings, calling the justification evidence of Kabul’s insincerity.
Speaking later on a private news program, Khawaja Asif said that while earlier hopes had faded, there were now signs of progress. However, he clarified that it was too early to draw definitive conclusions.
He explained that several drafts of the agreement are being exchanged between the two sides for review and amendments, adding that “a cautious sense of optimism exists, and we hope it leads to a tangible outcome.”
