Ceasefire Welcomed, Saudi Response Sparks Backlash

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed an immediate ceasefire in Doha mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, with follow-up talks scheduled in Istanbul on October 25 to consolidate mechanisms for lasting peace. Qatar and Türkiye were credited with brokering the truce, which was publicly welcomed by Saudi Arabia, China, Russia and the UAE. Riyadh’s initial response — a generic call for restraint rather than explicit backing — prompted criticism in Pakistan that the recently touted Pakistan–Saudi Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) lacks practical substance. Doha’s joint statement removed references to the “Durand Line” and the word “border,” a move seen as a diplomatic gain for the Afghan side and an embarrassment for Islamabad that has increased domestic pressure for parliamentary scrutiny of the SMDA. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia is expected to focus on damage control.