In a significant development aimed at de-escalating tensions, Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a week of intense border clashes that resulted in dozens of casualties and hundreds injured. The agreement was finalized during talks in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, marking the worst violence since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The ceasefire was announced by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif via a post on X, stating that both nations would reconvene in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss further details. Asif emphasized that terrorism originating from Afghan soil would cease immediately, and both countries would respect each other’s sovereignty. The Afghan delegation, led by Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob and intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wassiq, echoed this commitment to peace and mutual respect. The talks, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, focused on ending hostilities and establishing mechanisms for lasting peace and stability. Regional powers, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have urged de-escalation, warning that the violence could destabilize a region already grappling with threats from groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida. The clashes were triggered by Pakistan’s demand for Afghanistan to curb extremists operating from its territory, a claim the Taliban denies. While the ceasefire provides a temporary reprieve, experts warn that underlying issues, particularly cross-border terrorism, remain unresolved.