Taliban and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire after weeks of deadly clashes, marking the first major breakthrough in efforts to end the fighting. The agreement was brokered by Qatar and Turkey, with both sides agreeing to establish mechanisms for lasting peace and stability.
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, ending "hostile actions" is crucial to achieving this goal. Pakistan's foreign minister has hailed the deal as a positive step, saying it marks the first major progress in efforts to address the long-standing issue of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
However, the ceasefire does not seem to have completely put an end to cross-border violence. Pakistani troops claimed to have carried out air strikes on Afghan territory, killing eight people including three local cricket players. This incident highlights the challenges facing the new agreement and the need for both sides to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire.
The clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban began after the Taliban accused Islamabad of carrying out attacks in Kabul. The situation escalated further when Afghan troops fired on Pakistani border posts, prompting a response from Pakistan's military.
At least 17 Afghan civilians have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the fighting. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has condemned the violence, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.
The agreement marks a significant shift in the relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban. In the past, Islamabad had backed the group's return to power in 2021, but relations have deteriorated since then due to allegations of Pakistan providing a safe haven to armed groups that launch attacks on government forces.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of harbouring these groups, which it claims are responsible for carrying out attacks on Pakistani soil. The agreement seems to be an attempt by both sides to address these concerns and find a way forward.
In a statement, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the ceasefire meant "terrorism from Afghanistan on Pakistan's soil will be stopped immediately". The Taliban has agreed not to support groups carrying out attacks against Pakistani security forces or civilians.
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, ending "hostile actions" is crucial to achieving this goal. Pakistan's foreign minister has hailed the deal as a positive step, saying it marks the first major progress in efforts to address the long-standing issue of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
However, the ceasefire does not seem to have completely put an end to cross-border violence. Pakistani troops claimed to have carried out air strikes on Afghan territory, killing eight people including three local cricket players. This incident highlights the challenges facing the new agreement and the need for both sides to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire.
The clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban began after the Taliban accused Islamabad of carrying out attacks in Kabul. The situation escalated further when Afghan troops fired on Pakistani border posts, prompting a response from Pakistan's military.
At least 17 Afghan civilians have been killed and hundreds more wounded in the fighting. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has condemned the violence, calling for an immediate end to hostilities.
The agreement marks a significant shift in the relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban. In the past, Islamabad had backed the group's return to power in 2021, but relations have deteriorated since then due to allegations of Pakistan providing a safe haven to armed groups that launch attacks on government forces.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of harbouring these groups, which it claims are responsible for carrying out attacks on Pakistani soil. The agreement seems to be an attempt by both sides to address these concerns and find a way forward.
In a statement, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that the ceasefire meant "terrorism from Afghanistan on Pakistan's soil will be stopped immediately". The Taliban has agreed not to support groups carrying out attacks against Pakistani security forces or civilians.
i feel like its such a huge step forward but at the same time idk if its gonna last because of all the history between them 
like they used to back the taliban but now its different and stuff...anywayz im just glad there wont be as much bloodshed in afghanistan & pakistan for a while 
i wonder wut they did 2 b able 2 broker such an agreement tho 
Still, I guess it's progress and all that. Pakistan needs to address its concerns about terrorism, but at the same time, they can't just ignore their own actions, right? 
It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out...
, but it's still gonna be a tough road ahead for both sides. I mean, think about it, there are still so many questions unanswered and concerns that need to be addressed. The fact that Pakistani troops carried out air strikes on Afghan territory just days after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect is a major setback 
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You know, back in 2021, the Taliban took over, and everyone was like "what's next?" 
Fast forward to now, and we got this ceasefire deal. It's a big deal, I guess... 
But, for real tho, it's gonna take a lot more than just words to get these two countries to stop fighting. Like, remember when ISIS was all the rage in 2014? 
We should be focusing on stuff like that instead of our own borders... 
. I mean, 17 Afghan civilians killed is just not something you can just brush off, ya know? It's like, what's the point of having a peace agreement if people are still getting hurt? 
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this whole thing feels like a classic case of a stalemate being broken but still having all the pieces in place for things to fall apart again... both sides are trying to save face and avoid accountability, which makes me kinda skeptical about how long this ceasefire will last 
