Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have agreed to continue the ceasefire that was initially agreed upon in Doha. A joint statement issued after talks in Istanbul confirmed the decision. The discussions, which took place from October 25 to 30, 2025, were mediated by Türkiye and Qatar. The next meeting to discuss further steps will be held on November 6, 2025, in Istanbul.
The statement, released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, emphasized that all parties involved had agreed to extend the ceasefire. Additionally, they agreed to discuss the next steps for its implementation in a high-level meeting in early November. A monitoring and verification mechanism will be established to ensure the ceasefire is respected, with penalties for any violators.
The mediators, Türkiye and Qatar, expressed satisfaction with the active participation of both Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. They reiterated their commitment to facilitating ongoing dialogue to achieve long-term peace and stability in the region. This development follows previous negotiations, which were unsuccessful despite efforts by Turkish and Qatari officials.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar, had expressed frustration over the lack of progress. He criticized the Afghan Taliban for not honoring their written commitments under the Doha Agreement. Pakistan had pushed for action against groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operate from Afghan territory.
Sources indicated that Afghan representatives had refused to provide written assurances on the issue of militant groups. Meanwhile, Pakistan reiterated its demand for guarantees that Afghan soil would not be used for cross-border terrorism. Mediators recognized Pakistan’s security concerns as legitimate, acknowledging the importance of resolving these issues for regional peace.
