Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasized that the recently agreed ceasefire with Afghanistan will remain effective only if the Taliban fully honors its commitment to halt cross-border attacks by militants. Speaking to Dawn, Asif highlighted that the truce is conditional, stating, “Anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of this agreement. Everything hinges on this one clause.” The deal, brokered in Doha with mediation by Qatar and Turkiye, explicitly prohibits incursions across the shared border.
Asif underlined that the central objective of the ceasefire is to combat terrorism, which has long plagued the border regions of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. “Terrorism has been impacting the border regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan for years,” he told Al-Jazeera Arabic. Both countries, he added, now recognize that ending militant activity is essential for maintaining regional stability.
Efforts to curb militancy will continue through coordinated initiatives, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in Istanbul next week to finalize operational details of the ceasefire. Afghan Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob reportedly acknowledged that terrorism has been the primary source of tension between the two nations, and both sides have agreed to jointly address the issue.
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have persisted since 2023, largely due to Pakistan’s repeated accusations that the Taliban government has allowed militant groups to use Afghan territory for attacks inside Pakistan. Violence escalated following assaults by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including a recent attack in Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that claimed the lives of 11 Pakistani soldiers, among them a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major. Asif’s statements underline that the longevity of the ceasefire will depend entirely on the Taliban’s compliance and commitment to preventing cross-border militancy.
