Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, said that Islamabad’s agreement to maintain a ceasefire along the Afghan border depends on the Taliban’s willingness to act decisively against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Asif said the government has shown “maximum restraint” in recent clashes but warned that patience is running thin if cross-border attacks continue. “Pakistan desires peace, but we cannot allow militants to target our security forces or civilians with impunity,” he stated.
Asif emphasized that the recent violence along the border, which led to casualties on both sides, stemmed from the failure to curb the movement of armed groups using Afghan territory to launch strikes inside Pakistan. “If the Taliban demonstrate real commitment to restraining these elements, the ceasefire can hold and even lead to broader stability in the region,” he added.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated in recent weeks following border skirmishes and accusations from Islamabad that Kabul has not done enough to curb militant activity. The Afghan Taliban, however, maintain that they are not harboring groups targeting Pakistan.
Regional observers believe both sides are under pressure to de-escalate, with international attention increasingly focused on preventing another cycle of violence that could destabilize cross-border trade and humanitarian efforts.
Asif concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s willingness to work through diplomatic and military channels to ensure the border remains peaceful, but warned that “the responsibility for peace lies equally with Kabul.”