Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban government have agreed to an immediate ceasefire after more than a week of deadly fighting.
The foreign ministry of Qatar, which mediated talks alongside Turkey, stated that both sides have committed to establishing mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, emphasized the importance of ending hostile actions, while Pakistan's foreign minister described the agreement as a first step in the right direction.
Both sides claim to have inflicted significant casualties during the fighting, said to be the worst since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
Islamabad has long accused the Taliban of harboring armed groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban denies.
Intensified clashes along the lengthy mountainous border occurred after the Taliban accused Pakistan of conducting attacks on Kabul. Tensions escalated as Afghan troops fired on Pakistani border posts in response to alleged Pakistani attacks.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reports that at least three dozen Afghan civilians have died, with many more injured.
A temporary truce was attempted on Wednesday as delegations convened in Doha; however, cross-border strikes persisted.
On Friday, the Taliban alleged that Pakistan carried out an airstrike that killed eight individuals, including local cricket players.
The new ceasefire agreement stipulates that the Taliban will not support groups attacking the Government of Pakistan, and both sides will avoid targeting each other's civilians, security forces, or essential infrastructure.
This latest ceasefire signifies Pakistan's commitment to halting terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, with both parties scheduled to meet in Istanbul for further discussions next week.
Despite being a significant backer of the Taliban post-2001, relations between Pakistan and the Taliban soured due to allegations of providing refuge to the Pakistan Taliban, which has been engaged in an insurgency against Pakistani forces.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, the Pakistan Taliban has conducted over 600 attacks against Pakistani forces in the last year.