Asif says peace needs Taliban to stop border incursions immediately

Pakistan – Afghanistan – (Special Correspondent / WEb Desk) – Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan depends on the Taliban stopping cross-border attacks. He revealed that under an agreement signed by Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkiye, and Qatar, both nations had pledged to avoid any military incursions. He clarified that the ceasefire would stay active as long as the agreement is respected.

The minister alleged that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operates from Afghan soil and carries out attacks in collaboration with the Afghan Taliban, though Kabul has denied these claims. He told Al-Jazeera Arabic that the main goal of the ceasefire pact was to remove terrorism from the region and ensure long-term peace.

Asif explained that both countries agreed terrorism must be tackled immediately because it continues to harm border areas and communities on both sides. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan would take serious and united steps to fight terrorism, warning that failure to do so could bring serious threats to regional peace.

He shared that the peace agreement was reached with the mediation of Qatar and Turkiye, whose involvement guarantees fair implementation. Asif praised Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their strong efforts in helping both sides reach the accord.

The defence minister announced that another high-level meeting will be held in Istanbul next week to finalise the details and establish an effective system to resolve ongoing border issues. He added that his Afghan counterpart also recognised terrorism as the root cause of bilateral tension, which both sides are now committed to addressing.

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Asif noted that Pakistan has faced enormous human and economic losses because of terrorism over the years, but he expressed optimism that peace and stability would now return. Improved relations, he said, would boost trade and transit between the two nations, allowing Afghanistan to use Pakistan’s ports again for imports and exports.

Regarding Afghan refugees, Asif clarified that those with valid documents and visas would be allowed to remain in Pakistan. However, undocumented refugees would continue to be repatriated in a lawful and organised manner.

He also cautioned that it was too early to claim full satisfaction with the agreement, saying its true success would depend on how well both sides implement it in the coming weeks and months.

In a separate interview with Arab News, Asif firmly dismissed claims that Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul at the request of the United States. He called such reports “baseless and nonsensical,” adding that Pakistan has no interest in foreign interference or returning to its past involvement in Afghan affairs.

He said Pakistan only wants peaceful relations and a respectful neighbourhood. “We have no business in Afghanistan’s internal matters or its relations with India or any other country,” he stated. Asif concluded by saying that as long as Afghan activities do not affect Pakistan’s security, Islamabad has no reason to interfere.