https://arab.news/8t2p4
- Agreement comes after peace talks in Istanbul aimed at easing border tensions
- Sides plan to meet again at a higher-level gathering next month
ANKARA, Turkiye: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to maintain a ceasefire following peace talks in Istanbul, Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday, after a dialogue between the two sides collapsed earlier in the week.
The sides plan to meet again at a higher-level gathering in Istanbul on Nov. 6 to finalize how the ceasefire will be implemented, the ministry said in a statement released on behalf of Pakistan, Afghanistan and mediators Turkiye and Qatar.
“All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and imposing penalty on the violating party,” the statement read.
The latest negotiations, facilitated by Turkiye and other friendly nations, were aimed at easing border tensions between the two sides who earlier this month exchanged fire, leaving dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants dead.
Despite the collapse of the previous round of talks, a ceasefire has largely held and no new border clashes were reported this week. However, both countries have kept major crossings closed, leaving hundreds of trucks carrying goods and refugees stranded on each side.
The spokesman for the Afghan government, Zabihullah Mujahid, said his country was committed to resolving disputes through diplomacy.
“Just as the Islamic Emirate seeks good relations with other neighboring countries, it also desires positive ties with Pakistan and remains committed to relations based on mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, and not posing a threat to any side,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif told the Geo news channel that Pakistan decided to give peace another chance in the latest round of talks at the request of Qatar and Turkiye, and that the Pakistani delegation, originally set to return home Wednesday night, was asked to stay in Istanbul.
According to Pakistani state-run television, Islamabad said the talks would be based on Pakistan’s central demand that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable and effective action against militant groups.