Asif: Ties with Kabul hinge on ending TTP support

Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif said relations with Afghanistan cannot return to normal unless the Taliban government ends all support and sanctuary for the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He noted that infiltration into Pakistan from Afghan soil persists in some form and warned that the ceasefire will not hold without verifiable guarantees.

Asif confirmed an interim ceasefire was reached under Qatari and Turkish mediation after six days of talks and that a monitoring and verification mechanism has been agreed in principle. The next round of discussions is scheduled in Istanbul on November 6 to finalise modalities and enforcement steps.

The Foreign Office echoed the position, saying Pakistan does not seek further tensions and expects Kabul to prevent its territory from being used against Pakistan. Officials stressed Islamabad has repeatedly shared evidence regarding groups operating from Afghan soil.

Contextualising the tensions, authorities cited a surge in cross-border incidents since 2021, retaliatory actions by Pakistani forces, and previous rounds of dialogue in Doha that produced a framework for reducing hostilities. The current push aims to lock in oversight and penalties for any violations.