- Truce signed during the Doha negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- The United Kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international peace efforts.
- He appreciates the diplomatic role of Qatar and Türkiye in brokering the agreement.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on Monday hailed the ceasefire pact between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling it a vital step towards lasting peace and regional stability.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the historic agreement was reached during a round of negotiations held in Doha.
“Saudi Arabia welcomes the signing by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan of an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries, during the round of negotiations held in Doha,” the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
“The Kingdom affirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability, and its continued commitment to ensuring security that achieves stability and prosperity for the brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
According to the statement, the Kingdom hopes that this positive step will lead to an end to tensions on the border between the two countries.
“The Ministry also appreciates the diplomatic efforts and constructive role played by the State of Qatar and the Republic of Türkiye in this regard.”
Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha, both sides said on Sunday, after a week of fierce border clashes, the worst violence between the South Asian neighbors since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
The ceasefire “has been finalized,” Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif posted on X on Sunday, saying both sides would meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss “detailed matters.”
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the parties agreed to a comprehensive and meaningful ceasefire.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry, which mediated Saturday's talks alongside Turkey, said the follow-up meetings aimed to “ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner.”
Attack, counterattack
The talks were led by Asif and his Afghan counterpart Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, both sides said.
Ground fighting between the former allies and Pakistani airstrikes along their disputed 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) border broke out after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they were operating from safe havens in Afghanistan.
Pakistani forces gave an adequate response to the aggression, killing more than 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants in a self-defense action. The army's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom in clashes with Taliban forces and terrorists.
The Taliban deny harboring militants to attack Pakistan and accuse the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan and harboring militants linked to Daesh to undermine its stability and sovereignty. Islamabad denies the allegations.
Militants have been waging war for years against the Pakistani state in an attempt to overthrow the government and replace it with their strict brand of Islamic rule.
“The Afghan regime must stop proxies who have sanctuaries in Afghanistan and are using Afghan soil to carry out heinous attacks inside Pakistan,” Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir said at a cadet graduation ceremony on Saturday.
The Taliban spokesman said that at the Doha talks “it was decided that neither country will take hostile action against the other and no support will be provided to groups operating against the government of Pakistan.”
In a follow-up post on X, he said it reflected the Taliban's long-standing position that Afghanistan's territory will not be used against any other country.
The statements made about the agreement do not constitute a joint statement, he said.
