 "Afghan Taliban's Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid and Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif shake hands following the signing of a ceasefire agreement during negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha, Qatar, on October 19, 2025. (File Photo: Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuters)")
After the second round of talks in Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to extend the ceasefire on Thursday. According to a statement released by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks between the two nations were mediated by both Ankara and Qatar.
The statement noted that the talks were held between 25 and 30 October in Istanbul. Negotiators from Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan sat down to discuss ways to strengthen the ceasefire, which had been agreed upon in Qatar. Earlier this month, Islamabad and Kabul engaged in a brief military conflict at the border, which resulted in several fatalities.
“Afghanistan, Pakistan, Türkiye and Qatar held meetings in Istanbul from 25 to 30 October 2025 aimed at solidifying the ceasefire that was agreed by Afghanistan and Pakistan in Doha on 18–19 October 2025, with the mediation of Türkiye and Qatar. All parties have agreed on the continuation of the ceasefire,” the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Next meeting on 6 November
It also noted that additional principles for the implementation of the ceasefire would be discussed and finalised during a high-level meeting to be held on 6 November in Istanbul .
“All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure the maintenance of peace and impose a penalty on the violating party,” the ministry stated. “As mediators, Türkiye and Qatar express their appreciation for the active contributions of both parties and stand ready to continue cooperation with both sides for lasting peace and stability,” the statement further read.
Initially, a 48-hour ceasefire was announced on 15 October after intense border clashes between the two sides. It was later extended until the conclusion of the Doha talks, with the support of Türkiye and Qatar. The military escalation between the two nations intensified after Pakistan conducted two strikes in Kabul, while the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Muttaqi , was on a six-day visit to India.