Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree To Immediate Ceasefire After Talks In Doha

By Shakir Husain

NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a round of negotiations in Doha, Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday.

The peace talks were mediated by Qatar and Turkiye.

"During the negotiations, the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries," the Qatari statement said.

"The two parties also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner, thus contributing to achieving security and stability in both countries," it said.

On Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Afghan interim government Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund spoke to Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the phone, telling Anwar that they wanted peace.

Akhund said Afghanistan was not in favour of war and informed Anwar about the talks held in Doha with Pakistan on resolving the conflict, according to a statement issued by Afghan spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

Anwar expressed his "readiness to assist in resolving the matter and stressed the importance of continued dialogue," the Afghan statement noted.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan situation was also discussed during Anwar's conversation with Shehbaz on Saturday evening.

Shehbaz "apprised his Malaysian counterpart of the security situation along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border" and "underscored that Pakistan seeks peace and stability in Afghanistan," according to a Pakistan Prime Minister's Office statement.

Scores of people were killed on both sides in recent days in cross-border attacks.

-- BERNAMA