Defence Minister Affirms Pak-Kabul Ceasefire Strictly Conditional on Ending Cross-Border Terrorism

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced Monday that the ceasefire agreement recently reached between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban administration is strictly conditional upon the elimination of cross-border terrorist activities. The accord, signed in Doha following recent border clashes, is fundamentally tied to Kabul’s ability to prevent militant groups, specifically the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from operating out of neighbouring territory to attack Pakistan.

Minister Asif stressed the gravity of this core condition, stating, “Anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of this agreement. Everything hinges on this one clause.” He added that the primary objective of the deal is to “eliminate the menace of terrorism” which has plagued the border areas for years.

The Minister confirmed that the agreement was successfully facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye, whose presence serves as a crucial guarantee for the accord’s compliance. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to be held in Istanbul next week to finalize the details and devise an effective mechanism for implementation and issue resolution.

Dismissing claims of external influence on Pakistan’s actions, Minister Asif affirmed the country’s commitment to non-interference in Afghan affairs. He expressed “guarded optimism” about the agreement, stating its long-term success would be judged by the effectiveness of its implementation in the coming weeks and months.

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