Pakistan, Afghanistan Extend Ceasefire Ahead of Doha Peace Talks

Islamabad/Doha: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to prolong their 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of the upcoming peace talks in Doha, officials confirmed on Friday.

A Pakistani delegation has already reached the Qatari capital, while an Afghan Taliban team is expected to arrive on Saturday, according to Pakistani security sources and a Taliban official.

The temporary truce, first enforced on Wednesday, brought a halt to fierce border clashes that had killed dozens and injured hundreds. The extension aims to create a calmer atmosphere for negotiations and prevent further civilian casualties.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at a federal cabinet meeting on Thursday, said Pakistan was ready for dialogue and a peaceful resolution “on reasonable terms,” adding that “the ball is now in Afghanistan’s court.”

Sharif, however, accused the Taliban of carrying out recent attacks on Pakistan “at India’s behest” — a charge made without evidence. Tensions between the two nations spiked earlier this week after Pakistan launched airstrikes in Kabul, prompting what the Taliban described as “retaliatory measures.”