• Qatar, Turkiye, and Oman welcome accord, call it step toward ‘sustainable peace’
• Ex-US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad calls it ‘good news from Doha’
• Dar, Sadiq hail ‘significant step’, stress need for continued cooperation to counter terrorism

KARACHI: Muslim nations and political figures from around the globe welcomed the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday, emphasising its importance for regional peace and stability, Dawn.com reported.

Qatar, Turkiye, and Oman have warmly welcomed the landmark agreement, reached after high-stakes talks in Doha aimed at easing border tensions and restoring regional stability.

Qatar — which co-mediated the negotiations alongside Turkiye — hailed the accord as “an important step toward ending tensions on the border between the two brotherly countries and building a solid foundation for sustainable peace in the region.”

Turkiye’s foreign ministry also praised the outcome, saying, “We welcome that Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar and decided to establish mechanisms to strengthen peace and stability between the two countries during the talks held in Doha.”

The statement added that Turkiye “will continue to support efforts for lasting peace and stability between the two brotherly countries and in the region.”

Oman joined in to commend the deal, describing both Pakistan and Afghanistan as “friendly nations.”

In a message on X, the Sultanate lauded “the sisterly State of Qatar and the friendly Republic of Turkiye” for their mediation eff­orts and expressed hope that the truce would endure “to achieve lasting and comprehensive peace between the two countries.”

In a tweet, former US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Kha­­­­­lilzad welcomed the development, calling it “good news from Doha.” He also credited Qatar and Turkiye’s mediation for helping both sides reach an agreement.

Reactions from Pakistan

Within Pakistan, senior government officials and political leaders also praised the move. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar described the accord as “the first step in the right direction,” adding, “We look forward to the establishment of a concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism in the next meeting to be hosted by Turkiye to address the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil towards Pakistan.”

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq termed the agreement a “significant step toward regional stability.” In his statement, he noted, “Pakistan has always believed in peaceful coexistence, negotiations, and respect for neighbouring countries.” He highlighted that “peace in Afghanistan is intertwined with peace in Pakistan” and called the ceasefire a product of “the consensus of political and military leadership.”

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique also hailed the development as “a commendable step,” praying for the agreement’s success and durability.

Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari welcomed the ceasefire but voiced concern that the agreement did not explicitly address the issue of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “While an agreement to ceasefire is welcome, the core issue of Afghan Taliban support for TTP and their safe havens is not even mentioned,” she wrote on X, urging clearer commitments on counterterrorism cooperation.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2025