Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issues open warning to Taliban, says ‘Ceasefire agreement with Afghanistan as long as…’

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Even as a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Afghanistan and the Pakistani Taliban, conflict on the border has the potential to flare up again. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said the ceasefire arrangement with Afghanistan hinges on Taliban’s commitment to rein in terrorists attacking his country from across the border.

What did Khawaja Asif say about the conditions of the ceasefire with Afghanistan?

His statement comes a day after both sides agreed on a ceasefire following talks in Doha, which were facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye. Speaking to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Khawaja Asif said, “Anything coming from Afghanistan will be [a] violation of this agreement,” Asif said, “Everything hinges on this one clause.”

The Defense Minister of Pakistan further stated that the agreement signed between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Qatar clearly establishes that there will be no cross-border incursions. He stated,” We have a ceasefire agreement as long as there is no violation of the agreement which is already in force.”

Why is terrorism highlighted as the main concern in maintaining the ceasefire?

Asif stressed that the main aim of the ceasefire is to combat terrorism, which has impacted both nations for so long. According to state-run Radio Pakistan, in an interview with Al-Jazeera Arabic, the minister said that terrorism has been affecting border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan for years. He said that both countries have reached the conclusion that immediate elimination of terrorism is essential and the two countries will make serious efforts to curb terrorism, otherwise, regional peace could face serious threats.

What follow-up meetings are planned to finalize the ceasefire details?

Additionally, Asif stated that there will be another meeting next week in Istanbul to work out details on the ceasefire agreement agreed upon in Doha. Asif stated that Afghan Defense Minister Mullah Yakub admitted that terrorism has been a major source of tension between the two neighbors. He hoped that peace will now return, and relations will normalize between Pakistan and Afghanistan. As a result, Pakistan-Afghanistan trade and transit will also resume, and Afghanistan will be able to use Pakistani ports.

Separately, in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, the Afghan Defense Minister, claimed that Pakistan calls its opponents terrorists. He also dismissed allegations that the Afghan Taliban is acting at the behest of India(BHARAT) and indicated that friendly relations between Kabul and New Delhi would be enhanced further.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

1. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained.
2. Asif stated that there will be another meeting next week in Istanbul to work out details on the ceasefire agreement agreed upon in Doha.
3. Khawaja Asif said the ceasefire arrangement with Afghanistan hinges on Taliban’s commitment to rein in terrorists attacking his country from across the border.
4. Relations became even more strained following yet another terrorist attack carried out by TTP.

Since 2023, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained, with Islamabad repeatedly denouncing the use of Afghan territory by militants for cross-border attacks. Relations became even more strained following yet another terrorist attack carried out by TTP including one in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district recently, which claimed the lives of 11 military personnel, including a Lt Colonel and a Major.