WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has expressed readiness to help facilitate a ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, declaring that resolving tensions between the two neighboring countries would be “an easy one” for him to handle if required.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump highlighted his recent diplomatic achievements, claiming to have de-escalated eight major global conflicts in the past eight months. He cited the Pakistan–India standoff and the Gaza peace initiative as key examples of his mediation efforts.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Trump’s “remarkable” leadership during a ceremony where world leaders signed a declaration reaffirming commitment to a Gaza ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal. Sharif has on multiple occasions endorsed Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, referring to his role in easing the 2025 Pakistan–India tensions and pushing forward the Gaza peace framework.
“All these wars had nothing to do with us, but I still managed to save millions of lives,” Trump told journalists. “The Prime Minister of Pakistan said I helped prevent a disaster between Pakistan and India—two nuclear powers. That could have been catastrophic,” he added.
The remarks came as Islamabad and Kabul agreed on Friday to extend their 48-hour ceasefire until the conclusion of upcoming talks in Doha.
The temporary truce—brokered earlier in the week after several days of deadly border clashes—halted fighting that had left scores dead and hundreds wounded. Afghan officials reportedly requested the extension, hoping to create space for high-level negotiations scheduled to begin on Saturday.
According to security sources, a Pakistani delegation is expected to arrive in Doha today (Saturday), with Afghan representatives joining shortly after. The dialogue is likely to focus on mechanisms to prevent future border incidents and address Pakistan’s longstanding security concerns about militant sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil.
The recent flare-up began when Afghan forces allegedly launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistani border posts on August 11, resulting in the deaths of 23 Pakistani soldiers. In retaliation, Pakistan’s military carried out what it described as “precision strikes” on militant targets in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province and Kabul. Intelligence assessments later suggested that over 200 Taliban and affiliated fighters were killed in those operations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed on Friday that both nations are seeking a peaceful way forward. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaging in constructive dialogue to resolve this complex but solvable issue,” FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told a press briefing in Islamabad.
He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy and its desire for a “stable, inclusive, and peaceful Afghanistan,” while urging Kabul to take concrete steps against terrorist groups operating from its territory. “Pakistan expects verifiable action against terrorist elements,” Khan said, referring to militants from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and India-backed Baloch insurgent networks, which Islamabad labels as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and the safety of its people.
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