Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to maintain truce for another week: Turkiye

Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harbouring the Pakistan Taliban, a complaint Kabul denies.

Pakistan and Afghanistan person agreed to widen a ceasefire for astatine slightest different week during talks successful Turkiye, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The sides program to conscionable again astatine a higher-level gathering successful Istanbul connected November 6 to finalise however the ceasefire volition beryllium implemented, the ministry said successful a connection released connected behalf of Pakistan, Afghanistan and mediators Turkiye and Qatar.

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“All parties person agreed to enactment successful spot a monitoring and verification mechanics that volition guarantee attraction of bid and imposing punishment connected the violating party,” the connection read.

The 2 neighbours engaged successful a weeklong borderline struggle earlier this period pursuing explosions successful Afghanistan, which the Afghan authorities blamed connected Pakistan.

In the consequent cross-border strikes, Pakistan’s subject claimed it killed much than 200 Afghan fighters, portion Afghanistan says it killed 58 Pakistani soldiers.

It was the astir superior warring betwixt the 2 countries since the Taliban regained power of Kabul successful 2021.

[Al Jazeera]

After the skirmishes, mediation by Qatar and Turkiye led to a ceasefire signed by the defence ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan connected October 19 successful Doha.

The 2 nations — which stock a 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) frontier — began a 2nd circular of talks successful Istanbul connected Saturday, which broke down Wednesday erstwhile some parties failed to scope a statement connected Islamabad’s cardinal request that Kabul ace down connected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an equipped radical often called the Pakistan Taliban oregon TTP, which has been agelong accused by Pakistan of carrying retired deadly attacks wrong its territory.

The Afghan authorities has consistently denied that it provides harmless haven for the group.

Talks resumed connected Thursday, starring to the statement to support the ceasefire until a caller circular of talks connected November 6.

Afghan authorities spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a connection confirming the decision of the talks and saying some sides had agreed to proceed discussions successful aboriginal meetings. Pakistan did not instantly comment.

While a ceasefire remains successful place, the borderline betwixt the 2 countries has been closed for much than 2 weeks, starring to mounting losses for traders successful the region.

In Kandahar connected the Afghan side, Nazir Ahmed, a cloth trader, told the newswire AFP some countries “will carnivore losses.”

“Our federation is bushed and their federation is besides tired,” the 35-year-old said Wednesday.

Abdul Jabbar, a conveyance spare parts trader successful the Pakistani borderline municipality of Chaman, said “trade suffers greatly”.

“Both countries look losses — some are Islamic nations,” helium told AFP.