Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after several days of deadly cross-border clashes, Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Sunday. The announcement came after at least 10 people were killed in Pakistani airstrikes following an earlier ceasefire. “During the negotiations, both sides agreed on an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to ensure lasting peace and stability between the two countries,” said a Qatari Foreign Ministry statement. Officials from both sides met in Doha on Saturday to ease tensions. Kabul had earlier accused Islamabad of violating a 48-hour ceasefire that led to a brief pause in nearly a week of fighting that has killed dozens of soldiers and civilians on both sides. Security officials in Pakistan said recent attacks in Afghan border areas targeted a militant group with ties to the Pakistani Taliban. They said the attack was in response to an attack on Pakistani paramilitary forces. The Pakistani delegation in Doha includes Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and intelligence chief General Asim Malik, while the Afghan side is led by Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob, the Taliban said.Violence broke out on October 11, just days after explosions in Kabul during a rare visit to India by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi. Soon after, Taliban fighters carried out attacks along the southern border with Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to respond.
