Sharif, during the International Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, said on Friday: “We extend our sincere gratitude to our brotherly countries – Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran – for their genuine commitment and efforts towards a permanent ceasefire, which remains extremely fragile.”
The Pakistani Prime Minister also warned of a “terrorist threat coming from Afghanistan,” and called on the international community to pressure the Taliban to fulfill its commitments in combating terrorism.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense since the Afghan Taliban took power in 2021. Ongoing disputes over border security and armed groups like the Pakistani Taliban have led to exchanges of accusations and economic pressures. In 2025, tensions escalated significantly due to Pakistani airstrikes in October, bloody border clashes in December, and halted trade, prompting demands for dialogue and de-escalation.
On October 19, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during Doha talks. To ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and its monitoring, both countries decided to hold additional meetings.
