Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan’s ceasefire deal with Afghanistan will remain active unless it is violated. He confirmed that the agreement has no time limit. Asif made the statement while explaining the key points of the truce signed in Doha. The ceasefire was brokered by Qatar and Turkiye after days of deadly border clashes. These clashes raised fears of wider conflict in the region.
The agreement clearly states there will be no cross-border attacks or militant support from Afghan soil. Asif stressed that Afghanistan must stop any help to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He said the deal depends on this single condition. Pakistan believes the TTP uses Afghan territory to launch attacks, though Kabul denies this claim. Mediators agreed that the TTP presence is the core issue between the two sides.
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Asif added that the ceasefire will not expire on any specific date. There is no deadline for review or renewal. The agreement stays in place as long as it is respected. Pakistan expects full compliance from the Afghan side. Violations would end the ceasefire and restart tensions.
To ensure peace, both sides agreed to meet again from October 25 to 27 in Turkiye. This follow-up meeting will finalize how to enforce the deal. The talks will focus on avoiding misunderstandings and building trust. Asif said the Afghan Defence Minister also admitted terrorism remains the biggest threat to regional peace.
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Lastly, Asif emphasized Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He said peace would help restore trade and border cooperation. Pakistan wants formal, controlled borders and safe repatriation of undocumented Afghan migrants. Asif said both nations are neighbors by geography, and now is the time to build better ties.