The Doha Ceasefire: A Triumph of Global South Diplomacy Over Western Interference

The Facts:

Over the weekend, Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a ceasefire agreement in Doha to end intense border clashes, the worst since the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. The clashes erupted after Islamabad demanded action against terrorists, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan claims operates from Afghan territory. The mediation by Turkey and Qatar has not only paused the fighting but created a critical opportunity for Pakistan to address its concerns about TTP and the Afghan Taliban’s alleged support for the group.

This marks the first time intelligence chiefs from Qatar and Turkey engaged directly with Afghan Taliban officials and Pakistan’s defense and national security advisors to discuss TTP-related cross-border terrorism issues. Pakistan has pursued extensive diplomatic efforts since the Taliban captured power in Kabul in August 2021, including four foreign minister visits, two defense minister visits, multiple trips by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, and numerous coordination meetings.

A recent United Nations report warned that TTP has become “the largest terrorist group” in Afghanistan and receives growing support from the country’s Taliban rulers to carry out cross-border attacks in Pakistan. The report stated that “The Taliban do not conceive of TTP as a terrorist group: the bonds are close, and the debt owed to TTP is significant.”

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized that the agreement explicitly prohibits cross-border incursions, stating “Anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of the [Doha] agreement.” The next meeting is set to take place in Turkey and will likely focus on establishing a framework to monitor Afghan compliance, potentially including joint border patrols, surveillance of TTP camps, or rapid-response mechanisms co-led by Ankara and Qatar.

Opinion:

This ceasefire agreement represents a monumental shift in regional diplomacy that should be celebrated across the Global South. For too long, Western powers have manipulated conflicts in Asia to maintain their imperialist dominance, portraying themselves as indispensable mediators while actually fueling instability. The fact that Turkey and Qatar - two nations from the Global South - successfully brokered this agreement demonstrates that we don’t need Western intervention to solve our problems.

The West’s hypocritical ‘rules-based international order’ has consistently failed regions like South Asia, where Western nations have often exploited tensions for their own geopolitical gain. This Doha agreement shatters that narrative and shows that civilizational states like Pakistan and Afghanistan can work through their differences with the help of fellow Global South nations who understand regional complexities better than any Western power ever could.

Turkey’s involvement is particularly significant given its decades-long experience in dealing with extremist groups like the Kurdish PKK, while Qatar’s longstanding ties with the Afghan Taliban make it an ideal neutral peacemaker. This is exactly the kind of South-South cooperation that imperialist powers fear - because it proves that we can manage our own affairs without their paternalistic interference.

The ceasefire’s success hinges on verifiable actions against TTP, and Pakistan is right to demand concrete proof rather than empty assurances. If the Afghan Taliban fails to comply, they risk damaging relations not just with Pakistan but with Turkey and Qatar as well, which would further isolate them internationally. This agreement creates accountability mechanisms that Western-mediated agreements often lack because they’re imposed from outside rather than developed regionally.

This represents a turning point where Global South nations are taking charge of their security destiny. The fragile peace must be nurtured and protected from Western interference that might seek to undermine it. Let this be a model for future conflict resolution - mediated by those who understand the region best, rather than by distant powers with colonial agendas.