Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the announcement of an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Source: x.com/arabnews
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Friday acknowledged that there has been no major terrorist attack originating from Afghan soil since the Doha ceasefire agreement, calling it a “positive outcome” as talks between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban regime move to Istanbul for the next round.
Newly appointed Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi, during his first weekly press briefing, said the truce reached in Doha earlier this week had been “generally maintained.”
“There has not been any major large-scale terrorist attack coming from Afghan soil in Pakistan in the last two or three days,” Andrabi said. “So indeed, the Doha talks and their outcome were fruitful. We would like to see the trend continue in Istanbul and beyond.”
The spokesperson said Pakistan’s key expectation from Afghanistan remains the same that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist attacks against Pakistan.
Andrabi reiterated that Islamabad approached the process with “sincerity of purpose and intent,” emphasizing that the goal of the talks was to establish a “verifiable and empirical mechanism” to ensure that the Taliban regime in Kabul takes concrete measures against terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.
He confirmed that the Doha agreement had been the result of delegation-level talks led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, focused on ending cross-border terrorism and restoring peace along the border. The next meeting, hosted by Türkiye in Istanbul on October 25, will seek to finalize the proposed monitoring framework.
Responding to questions about recent statements by Afghan officials questioning the existence of a formal agreement, Andrabi said Pakistan did not attach importance to terminology.
“We do not give much importance to the nomenclature attributed by the Taliban, whether it is an agreement, a truce or a treaty. The fact is that a substantial document was finalized, which is worthy of praise,” he said.
He added that Pakistan continues to take Afghan threats and cross-border attacks seriously, and emphasized that the security of Islamabad and the lives of its citizens take priority over trade facilitation.
“At border points linked to Afghan transit trade, armed attacks were carried out against Pakistan, killing Pakistanis,” Andrabi said. “For us, the lives of Pakistanis are more important than any commercialized product.”
While he did not confirm who would lead Pakistan’s delegation at the Istanbul talks, Andrabi said “a representative Pakistani delegation” would participate in the meeting.
The spokesperson also responded to questions about the Taliban’s plan to build a dam on the Kunar River, saying Pakistan was examining the matter.
“Transboundary rivers are governed by international law,” he said. “In such matters, Pakistan is both a superior and inferior riparian, and we will pursue this matter accordingly.”
Reaffirming Islamabad’s approach towards Kabul, Andrabi said Pakistan still seeks peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“Our message to the Taliban regime in Kabul is clear: stop these attacks, control and detain the TTP terrorists and other armed groups, and our relations could return to normal. We are not asking for the moon; we are asking them to fulfill their own commitments,” he said.
