Afghanistan and Pakistan close to agreement in Istanbul ceasefire talks

Diplomatic sources in Istanbul indicate that negotiators from Afghanistan and Pakistan have reached an agreement on the most significant issues, with the remaining points expected to be finalised before the conclusion of the talks late Monday.

Officials anticipate that the discussions may extend into the night as both sides work to secure a comprehensive understanding.

The negotiations were conducted after Afghanistan and Pakistan’s border security forces exchanged heavy fire on 12 October along the border between the two countries.

Afghan security forces launched those attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan, conducted two days earlier.

On 15 October, further fighting occurred along the Spin Boldak district and Paktika province, bordering Pakistan, including airstrikes by Pakistani forces inside Afghan territory.

A 48-hour ceasefire was announced on the evening of 15th October, in an attempt to halt further escalation of clashes.

Despite the ceasefire, further fighting was reported in some places along the border region, causing many civilian casualties.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 37 civilians were killed and more than 425 were injured because of the cross-border fighting.

In Doha, through the mediation of Qatar and Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan’s defence ministers agreed on 19 October to extend the ceasefire and establish a mechanism to consolidate lasting peace and stability.

The current talks in Istanbul are a follow-up to the Doha agreement, where both countries are expected to reach a comprehensive agreement to ensure lasting peace in the region.

Sources within Afghanistan’s foreign ministry told AnewZ that “negotiations are going well, and they hope to reach an agreement by the end of the day.”

Both sides are expected to issue a joint statement following the meeting’s conclusion.

The agreement is likely to address several key matters, including the extension of the current ceasefire, the reopening of closed border crossings, and confirmation of the timing and venue for the next round of dialogue.

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