Displaced International Welcomes Taliban–Pakistan Ceasefire but Warns It Fails to Address Root Causes of Violence and Afghanistan’s Deepening Displacement Crisis
Displaced International (DI) welcomes the recent ceasefire agreement between the Taliban and Pakistan reached in Doha, recognizing that any pause in fighting offers a much-needed respite for civilians at risk of further harm. At the same time, DI cautions that the deal alone cannot deliver sustainable peace—especially given the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict and displacement.
In recent border violence, according to Displaced International’s earlier statement, more than 40 Afghans were killed and over 400 others wounded in Pakistani airstrikes and cross-border shelling, with entire families displaced as homes were destroyed and essential services disrupted. Many of those affected were already among Afghanistan’s internally displaced persons (IDPs) and forcibly returned refugees living in fragile conditions, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
In this context, DI underscores three key points. First, any ceasefire must be legitimate, transparent, and inclusive. Without public disclosure of the agreement’s terms or consultation with the Afghan people, the deal lacks both accountability and national ownership. Second, the Taliban’s refusal to act as a responsible state authority—and their continuing role as a regional proxy force—undermine prospects for stability and civilian protection. Third, regional governments must end their reliance on the Taliban as a tool of rivalry and instead support a UN-led political process that addresses the root causes of conflict, impunity, and forced displacement.
Ambassador Ashraf Haidari, Founder and President of Displaced International, said: “Any ceasefire that pauses the guns but leaves displacement in motion is an incomplete solution. The real test is whether Afghan families—already uprooted by decades of war—can finally go home, rebuild, and feel safe. Until the Afghan people have representative governance, meaningful rights protection, and a transparent peace process, this cycle of violence and forced movement will simply be paused, not ended.”
Displaced International calls on the United Nations and its Member States to act by convening a Security Council session to ensure civilian protection, investigate the impact of border violence, demand transparency from all parties, and support a UN-facilitated inclusive peace process. Only by anchoring ceasefire initiatives in legitimate governance, human rights, and regional cooperation can Afghanistan’s displacement crisis be reversed and lasting peace achieved.
