Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that relations with Afghanistan cannot normalize until the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sponsorship ends. He stressed that Pakistan demands a complete halt to cross-border attacks from Afghan territory.
Asif said an interim agreement was reached recently between Pakistan and Afghanistan, mediated by Qatar and Turkey. He added that another round of talks is scheduled for 6 November in Istanbul, where the mechanism to implement the agreement will be finalized.
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Asif clarified that Pakistan does not blame the entire Afghan government, but some officials support groups responsible for incursions. He emphasized that although a ceasefire is in place, violations continue, and Pakistan is responding to them. He also stressed the importance of a verification mechanism to ensure all parties adhere to the agreement.
The minister strongly stated that peaceful ties with Afghanistan are impossible as long as TTP enjoys Afghan support. He praised the role of mediators, saying Pakistan values its relationship with Qatar and Turkey and hopes their efforts ensure the agreement succeeds. However, he warned that trust will remain limited until incursions stop completely.
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Khawaja Asif also criticized statements by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, saying they undermine national security. He reminded that Pakistan belongs to 250 million people, not a single individual, and emphasized that national survival takes precedence over any personal influence.