Both sides meet again in Istanbul on October 25, where ‘detailed issues will be discussed’
Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the announcement of an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Source: x.com/arabnews
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the ceasefire pact signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The ceasefire was reached during negotiations in Doha, brokered by Qatar and Turkey.
In a post on X, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described the ceasefire as an “important step” towards lasting peace between the “fraternal peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan”. It reaffirmed Riyadh’s support for regional and international efforts to promote stability.
#Declaration | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s welcome that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan have signed an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries,… pic.twitter.com/Om4pxSCS55
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) 19 October 2025
“The kingdom hopes that this positive step will lead to an end to tensions on the border between the two countries,” the ministry said.
The agreement was confirmed by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and an Afghan government spokesman, who said both sides would refrain from hostilities and work to establish mechanisms for lasting peace.
Read: Over 200 Afghan troops killed, 23 soldiers martyred in retaliatory attack on Afghanistan: ISPR
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on X that the two sides will meet again in Istanbul on October 25, where “detailed issues will be discussed.”
The cease-fire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been finalized. The chain of terror on Pakistan’s land from Afghanistan will immediately end, and both neighboring countries will respect each other’s land. Alhamdulillah
On October 25th, I will be back again in Istanbul. מעשוק הוג גי אור מפשעטים הוגי אור משעלים באת הוגי… pic.twitter.com/OKNbRuXEPU— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) 18 October 2025
On Wednesday, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire. The ceasefire was extended on Friday, culminating in the pact being signed earlier today.
Escalation and damage
The agreement comes after a week of intense fighting on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the worst violence seen since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
Border strikes and shootouts have killed dozens and injured many more, disrupting communities, border trade and refugee flows. The UN has reported civilian casualties, and the closure and destruction of key border crossings added to humanitarian concerns.
The ground battles between the former allies and Pakistani airstrikes across their disputed 2,600 km (1,600 mile) border were sparked after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they were operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Read more: Explained: Pakistan-Afghanistan border conflict
The Taliban refuse to give sanctuary to militants to attack Pakistan and accuse the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan and sheltering militants linked to Islamic State to undermine its stability and sovereignty. Islamabad denies the allegations.
