ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan can never be returned to normal unless Kabul ends its support for the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Speaking to media, the defence minister said those sheltering the TTP militants in Afghanistan must stop the terrorists’ infiltration into Pakistan.
“Peaceful relations with our neighbour are only possible if all support for the TTP is completely ended,” he said, adding that it is difficult to trust the Afghan side without firm guarantees against cross-border attacks.
He said that the infiltration from Afghanistan is still going on in some form, adding that as long as the same situation continues, the agreement cannot take effect,” Asif said.
“Pakistan’s biggest demand is that infiltration into Pakistan from Afghan soil should stop,” he added.
The defence minister said that he would not blame the entire Afghan government, but many within its ranks are providing support to these groups.
He said that the Afghan regime is still violating the ceasefire agreement, to which Pakistan is responding in a befitting manner.
Asif also confirmed that an interim ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan was reached last night (Thursday) under the mediation of Qatar and Turkiye.
He said that the next round of talks is scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul, where he said the modalities of the agreement will be finalised. He added that monitoring and verification mechanisms have been agreed upon to ensure full compliance, particularly by the Afghan side.
Following six days of talks, Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime agreed to uphold the ceasefire, Turkiye’s foreign ministry said late Thursday.
“Further modalities of the implementation will be discussed and decided in a principal level meeting in Istanbul on 6 November 2025,” read a joint statement on the talks through the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar.
It further said that the meetings were held in Istanbul from October 25-30 aimed at solidifying the ceasefire which was agreed by Afghanistan and Pakistan in Doha on October 18-19.
“All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and imposing penalty on the violating party,” it added.
