عکس از جریان امضای توافق آتشبس فوری میان طالبان و پاکستان در دوحه
A delegation from the Taliban, led by their deputy interior minister Haji Najib, traveled to Turkey on Friday for follow-up talks aimed at advancing the ceasefire agreement signed last week with Pakistan.
Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the visit would focus on “remaining issues” related to the deal, which was reached in Doha after more than a week of deadly border clashes that according to UN left 37 people dead and 425 others wounded.
The ceasefire, brokered with the help of mediators from Qatar and Turkey, followed intense fighting along the border. The clashes disrupted trade, displaced civilians, and raised fears of a broader military escalation between the two sides.
Under the terms of the agreement, both sides pledged to avoid further hostile actions, and the Taliban committed to preventing cross-border attacks from Afghan territory — a longstanding demand from Islamabad, which has accused the Taliban of harboring fighters from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Despite the truce, tensions remain. The Taliban’s defense minister, Yaqoob Mujahid, said after the agreement that the Durand Line — which Kabul has long disputed — was not addressed during the talks. The remark sparked concern in Islamabad and cast doubt on the Taliban’s commitment to fully enforcing the deal.
Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, responded by warning that any further attacks from Afghan soil would constitute a breach of the agreement. “Anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of this agreement,” he said.
The Taliban delegation’s visit to Turkey is expected to focus on practical steps to implement the truce, including the reopening of closed border crossings, resumption of cross-border trade, and the possible creation of a mechanism to monitor future incidents.
Since the fighting began, the closure of key commercial routes has had a significant economic impact on both sides of the border. Thousands of trucks have been halted, fresh produce has spoiled, and business owners have reported millions of dollars in losses.
Local residents living near the frontier have also expressed frustration, as families remain stranded on both sides and communities that rely on cross-border movement have been cut off.
Analysts say the success of the ceasefire hinges on political will and concrete follow-through. Without trust-building measures and sustained dialogue, they warn, the agreement risks falling apart — dragging the region back into conflict.