Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called upon Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership to demonstrate consistency by condemning terrorism alongside their support for the recently signed Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire agreement.
While acknowledging PTI’s positive reception of the Doha accord reached between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban representatives, Asif emphasized that bilateral relations should transcend commercial considerations. “Pakistan-Afghanistan ties must not be assessed solely through the lens of business interests,” the minister stated in his social media message.
The defence minister further appealed to opposition figures to recognize the supreme sacrifices made by Pakistani security forces and express solidarity with the military’s ongoing counterterrorism operations. His remarks highlight growing concerns over PTI’s reluctance to explicitly denounce terrorist activities while advocating dialogue with militant groups.
This critique emerges amid PTI’s established position opposing large-scale military operations against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated organizations, instead favoring negotiated settlements.
The ceasefire breakthrough, announced early Sunday morning, represents a significant diplomatic achievement facilitated through Qatar and Turkey’s mediation efforts. Minister Asif publicly thanked both nations for their instrumental role in achieving this milestone.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar echoed optimism about the development but stressed the importance of implementing robust verification protocols. “Establishing concrete monitoring mechanisms will be crucial for addressing cross-border terrorism originating from Afghan territory,” Dar emphasized, noting that forthcoming discussions hosted by Turkey will focus on enforcement frameworks.
The ceasefire agreement marks a potential turning point in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, which have experienced considerable strain due to security challenges. However, officials maintain that sustainable peace requires addressing terrorism comprehensively rather than pursuing narrow economic agendas.
The situation continues developing as stakeholders await details on implementation procedures and verification systems.
