An important step has been taken towards reducing the ongoing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan. After peace talks held in Istanbul, both countries have agreed to maintain the ceasefire. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry announced the deal on Thursday and said Qatar and Turkey played the role of mediator in the talks.
The Foreign Ministry said the two countries will hold a high-level meeting again in Istanbul on November 6, where a final decision will be taken on the modalities for implementing the ceasefire. The statement said all parties have agreed to a monitoring and verification mechanism to maintain peace and impose penalties on violators.
Background of border tensions and talks
In recent times, tension on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan had increased. Dozens of soldiers and civilians were killed in the firing between the armies of the two countries. After this incident, Türkiye and Qatar tried to bring both the parties to the table once again for talks.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said that on the request of Qatar and Turkey, Pakistan decided to give the peace process another chance. He said that Pakistan’s main demand is that Afghanistan should not allow its land to be used for terrorist activities.
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The root of dispute between the two countries
The Afghan Taliban government accused Pakistan of air strikes after the explosions in Kabul earlier this month. The Afghan side said that Pakistan also bombed its eastern market, in which many civilians were killed. In response, Afghan forces retaliated against Pakistani military positions and claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers. However, Pakistan rejected the claim and said that 23 of its soldiers were killed and the operation was to target terrorist hideouts.
Hopes returned through the mediation of Qatar and Türkiye
After tensions escalated, a ceasefire was announced during emergency talks held in Qatar on 19 October. After this, the four-day long talks in Istanbul ended without any conclusion on Tuesday, but now both the countries have agreed to continue the talks again.
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Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir said in Peshawar that Pakistan wants peace with all its neighbors but will not tolerate terrorism emanating from Afghan soil under any circumstances. He said that Pakistan has exercised restraint in recent years and made diplomatic and economic efforts to improve relations, but the Afghan Taliban has instead supported Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Pakistani security forces on Thursday said 18 militants were killed in two operations in Balochistan, while four Pakistani Taliban fighters, including a high-value target, were killed in Bajaur city. Experts believe that if the Istanbul talks create a permanent ceasefire framework, it will prove to be a major breakthrough towards stability in South Asia.
