A tense week along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border finally eased after talks in Doha, where both sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire. The move came after fighting had flared again and at least 10 Afghans including children and three local cricket players were reported killed when Pakistani strikes hit parts of Paktika province, breaking a short truce that had briefly halted cross-border clashes.
Qatar and Turkey helped broker the deal on Saturday, and Doha’s foreign ministry said the two neighbors have also agreed to set up practical steps to keep the calm in place. Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan will meet again soon to check on how the ceasefire is holding up; Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said the next round of talks is planned for Istanbul on October 25.
Islamabad says the strikes targeted militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and were retaliation for attacks on Pakistani paramilitary forces. Kabul rejects the idea that it’s sheltering those groups, which has been a main source of friction between the two capitals. Security and the movement of armed groups across the porous border have been at the heart of the violence.
Representatives at the Doha talks included Pakistan’s intelligence chief and senior Afghan defense officials. The Taliban-led Afghan delegation was led by defense chief Mohammad Yaqoob. In what appeared to be a calculated step to let diplomacy work, a Taliban spokesman said commanders were ordered to hold fire so the negotiators could do their job without fresh fighting derailing progress.
Locals say the recent clashes have left communities shaken – roads cut off, families afraid to move, and hospitals treating the wounded. Officials in the affected Afghan province reported dozens hurt and appealed for calm. For now, people on both sides are watching closely to see whether the ceasefire holds, and whether the promise of talks can turn into lasting peace along a border that has too often seen cycles of violence.