Ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan ‘fragile’, says Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has requested parole to help resolve the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict, his sister Noreen Khan revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the ex-premier at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Noreen said Imran Khan was deeply upset over the recent border clashes between Pakistan and Afghan forces.
The 71-year-old former cricket star has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces several cases related to corruption and terrorism.
Khan’s offer comes as Pakistan’s armed forces continue to repel attacks from Afghan forces and allied militant groups. The clashes intensified last week when Afghan forces allegedly opened unprovoked fire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, prompting Pakistan to launch retaliatory strikes inside Afghan territory.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, multiple Pakistani soldiers were martyred in the attacks, while Pakistan’s military operations killed more than 200 militants. The strikes were halted temporarily after the Afghan Taliban government requested a ceasefire.
Pakistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire beginning at 6pm on Wednesday, the Foreign Office confirmed.
During her media talk, Noreen Khan said her brother wanted to mediate talks with Afghanistan if released on parole. “Imran Khan was saddened by the situation with Afghanistan and called for dialogue between the two countries to resolve tensions,” she said, adding that he was also hurt by the recent deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan.
The PTI and its leader have faced criticism from rival parties for promoting dialogue with banned groups involved in terrorist attacks. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have accused Khan of allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to return during his tenure, which ended after his ouster through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
The PTI denies these allegations, saying discussions with the TTP were never implemented. Khan has repeatedly called for talks with the Afghan Taliban to ensure Afghanistan’s soil is not used for cross-border terrorism against Pakistan.
‘Fragile’ Ceasefire
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has described the 48-hour ceasefire between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban as “fragile,” warning that Islamabad reserves the right to retaliate if border hostilities continue.
Speaking on Geo News’ program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Asif criticised what he called “a flood of lies” from Kabul, rejecting claims that Pakistan had deployed T-55 tanks. He accused certain Afghan elements of acting as proxies for India and spreading misinformation to justify aggression.
“This ceasefire is fragile, and I don’t think it will last long,” Asif said. “Pakistan has the right and capability to strike anywhere in Afghanistan, and we will respond with full strength if the war expands.”
While refraining from confirming specific military operations, Asif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to defending its sovereignty. He dismissed Kabul’s claims that Pakistan was to blame for the regional instability, saying Afghan officials were “fighting a proxy war through lies.”
The minister said Pakistan preferred diplomacy and was open to dialogue. He added that visa requests for talks with Afghan officials were withdrawn after renewed violence.
Asif questioned the Taliban’s commitment to peace, saying, “The Afghan Taliban do not intend for peace here.” However, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for regional stability and expressed hope for international mediation.
He welcomed any peace efforts from global leaders, including former US President Donald Trump. “President Trump has ended wars before; he is a messenger of peace. If he wants to help end this conflict, he is welcome,” Asif said.
The defence minister also voiced optimism that friendly nations, including Saudi Arabia, would step in to help bring lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
