Afghanistan Ceasefire Hinges on Taliban Controlling Militants

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated on Monday that the newly agreed ceasefire between Islamabad and Kabul is entirely dependent on the ruling Afghan Taliban's ability to control militants attacking Pakistan from across the shared 2,600 km border.

The ceasefire was brokered in Doha over the weekend, following days of border clashes that resulted in dozens of casualties—the worst violence since the Taliban took power in 2021.

Minister Asif, who led the Pakistani delegation, stressed that "Everything hinges on this one clause," emphasizing that "Anything coming from Afghanistan will be a violation of this agreement."

The border fighting and Pakistani airstrikes were triggered by Islamabad's demand that Kabul control militants operating from alleged havens in Afghanistan.

The minister confirmed that the written agreement, signed by Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Qatar, explicitly bans any incursions.

The Taliban administration and Afghanistan's defence ministry have not yet commented on the development.