Afghan Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid and Chief of Intelligence Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq traveled to Doha, Qatar, this morning, October 18th, 2025, to meet with Pakistani counterparts regarding the extension of a ceasefire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The talks are occurring at the request of the Afghan Taliban, according to reports from X accounts @khorasandiary and @OSPSF. The Pakistani delegation includes Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and National Security Advisor/Director General Inter Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Asim Malik, who are also en route to Doha for the negotiations. Pakistan has stated its commitment to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a base for cross-border terrorism and will take measures, including military action, to eliminate safe havens for perpetrators on either side of the western border, as stated by @OSPSF. These high-level discussions come amidst ongoing regional tensions and follow a period of reported activity by Afghan Khawarij forces which led to mass civilian evacuations from Spin Boldak. Previous reports from October 17th, 2025, indicated Afghan forces claimed to have killed Pakistani Major Yaseen Cheema and three soldiers, alongside Afghan missile launches targeting Pakistan and Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province.
