Islamabad – October 20, 2025
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said the success of the recently signed Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire agreement hinges on the Taliban’s ability to halt cross-border terrorist incursions originating from Afghan territory.
Speaking to media at Parliament House, Asif stressed that the ceasefire—brokered with mediation from Qatar and Turkiye—explicitly prohibits any violations across the shared 2,600-kilometre border. “Anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of this agreement. Everything hinges on this one clause,” he said.
“We want to stay away and live like decent neighbours. We don’t want to have any involvement in Afghan affairs,” Asif said, adding that Pakistan had “no business” in Afghanistan’s relationship with India or any other country.https://t.co/cysg1vMbrU
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 20, 2025
The agreement was reached over the weekend in Doha after intense clashes along the border that claimed dozens of lives. The violence, Pakistan said, was triggered by attacks from FAK (formerly TTP) militants operating out of Afghanistan.
Asif confirmed that another round of talks will be held in Istanbul on October 25, where both sides, along with Qatar and Turkiye, will finalize mechanisms for monitoring and implementing the deal. “If there’s a violation, these guarantors will be asked to step in,” he added.
While cautiously optimistic, Asif maintained that “only time will tell” if the Taliban act as a unified government and uphold the agreement. He also reiterated that Pakistan has no intention of engaging with FAK and ruled out any future negotiations with the group.
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Addressing rumours of foreign involvement, Asif categorically denied claims that Pakistan acted under U.S. influence during recent airstrikes, calling the notion “total nonsense.”
The defence minister emphasized that Pakistan seeks peace and non-interference, stating: “We want to live like decent neighbours. We have no business in Afghanistan’s ties with other nations—as long as their affairs do not spill over into our territory.”
