Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the recent ceasefire agreement between Pakistan & the interim Afghan government will only hold if the Taliban effectively prevents cross border terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
Speaking in Islamabad, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made it clear that “anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of this agreement,” stressing that the entire accord hinges on this one clause.
The understanding between the 2 countries mediated by Qatar & Turkey in Doha after days of deadly border clashes, marks a tentative step toward de-escalation.
The violence, among the worst since the Taliban takeover in 2021, was triggered by Pakistan’s demand that Kabul curb militants operating from its soil
The Defence Minister accused the banned TTP of carrying out attacks from Afghanistan in connivance with the TTA, while reaffirming that Pakistan’s strikes targeted terrorist sanctuaries, not civilians.
Defence Minister said the ceasefire agreement was guaranteed by the presence of Qatari & Turkish representatives, whose mediation he credited for the calm tone of the negotiations.
The Doha talks were not bitter, he said noting that direct communication between the 2 sides was minimal, with most dialogue channeled through mediators.
He revealed that the agreement was limited to a single page document, while further technical & verification details would be discussed in an upcoming meeting in Istanbul on 25th October.
The Defence Minister said the goal of the ceasefire was not merely to end border hostilities but to eliminate the menace of terrorism that has plagued the Pak-Afghan frontier for years.
He expressed hope that peace would restore trade and transit activity, enabling Afghanistan to use Pakistani ports once again. However, he maintained that undocumented Afghan refugees would continue to be repatriated, while those with valid visas could remain in Pakistan.
Rejecting speculation that Pakistan’s airstrikes were carried out at Washington’s request, Asif called such claims total nonsense, asserting that Pakistan had no business interfering in Afghan internal matters or its relations with other countries.
We want to live as decent neighbours, he said adding that Pakistan’s only concern was ensuring its territory was not used for attacks.
Addressing the recent controversy surrounding Qatar’s press release that omitted references to border tensions, Defence Minister dismissed it as inconsequential, saying that Qatar’s statement has nothing to do with the actual agreement.
He emphasised that the ceasefire’s success would be measured not by the language of diplomatic communiques but by tangible progress on the ground.
Cautiously optimistic, Defence Minister said Pakistan would judge the deal’s success in the coming weeks based on how seriously the Taliban acts against the TTP leadership, which he confirmed remains based in Afghanistan.
We are hopeful but cautious, This agreement’s future depends on actions, not words, he said #DefenceMinister#KhawajaAsif#Pakistan#Taliban#Afghanistan
