Saudi Arabia celebrates the peace process along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the recently reached ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling it a positive and promising move for stability in the region after weeks of deadly border clashes.
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the recently reached ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling it a positive and promising move for stability in the region after weeks of deadly border clashes.
Riyadh described the truce — brokered in Doha with the mediation of Qatar and Türkiye — as a “turning point toward lasting peace” between the two neighboring nations.
In a statement released by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, the Kingdom said it “welcomes the ceasefire agreed upon between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate peace and stability between them.”
“The Kingdom reiterates its full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at fostering security and prosperity for the brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the statement added, expressing hope that “this positive step will help end tensions along the shared border.”
Referring to the defense pact signed with Pakistan last month — under which any attack on one state would be considered an attack on both — Riyadh reaffirmed its strategic commitment to Islamabad and commended the “constructive mediation efforts” of Qatar and Türkiye in facilitating the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Türkiye, Qatar, and Oman also issued statements on Sunday welcoming the agreement and urging both sides to pursue dialogue.
Border Clashes
Tensions flared on October 11 when Afghan forces reportedly attacked Pakistani border posts. According to the Pakistani military’s media wing (ISPR), 23 Pakistani troops were martyred while over 200 Taliban fighters were killed in retaliatory operations.
Kabul said its forces acted in “retaliation” for alleged Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory — a claim Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied.
Further clashes were reported in Pakistan’s Kurram district and along the Balochistan border on October 14 and 15, with ISPR stating that the Taliban and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attempted to attack Pakistani posts but were successfully repelled, leaving dozens of militants dead.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Afghan troops were “forced to respond” after coming under Pakistani fire in Kandahar’s Spin Boldak area.
Later, Pakistani security sources said precision airstrikes targeted militant hideouts in Kabul and Kandahar, shortly before a 48-hour ceasefire was announced and later extended on October 17.
Despite the truce, Pakistan conducted further strikes on October 17 in Paktika province, targeting hideouts of the outlawed Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, killing dozens of militants.
Analysts say tensions stem from the Taliban government’s failure to curb the TTP, which has increased attacks inside Pakistan since ending its ceasefire with Islamabad. Pakistan has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent such groups from launching cross-border attacks — accusations Afghanistan continues to deny.