ISTANBUL: Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have agreed to extend their ongoing ceasefire, with the next round of peace talks scheduled for November 6, 2025, in Istanbul, according to a joint statement issued after a week of negotiations mediated by Türkiye and Qatar.
The talks, held between October 25 and 30, focused on strengthening the truce that was initially agreed upon in Doha on October 18–19, 2025. The meeting brought together delegations from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Türkiye, and Qatar, all committed to stabilizing the fragile peace in the region.
“All parties have agreed to continue the ceasefire,” the statement said, adding that discussions on the implementation mechanism will continue in the upcoming meeting. A monitoring and verification system will also be established to ensure compliance and impose penalties on any violating party.
Mediators Türkiye and Qatar praised both sides for their constructive participation, reiterating their commitment to facilitating an enduring peace process.
The renewed dialogue follows Pakistan’s earlier disappointment after the previous negotiation round failed to yield concrete progress. Islamabad had urged the Taliban to honor their commitments under the Doha Agreement, particularly concerning the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
Sources confirmed that Pakistan demanded verifiable assurances that Afghan territory would not be used for terrorism, while mediators acknowledged Pakistan’s security concerns as legitimate and vital for regional peace and stability.
💬 GRY News Analysis:
The continuation of the ceasefire offers a rare moment of optimism in Pakistan–Afghanistan relations. However, experts caution that without firm enforcement, the truce could collapse under the weight of mutual distrust and militant pressure.
