Ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan hinges on a single clause : Pakistan

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

Islamabad (Pakistan) / Kabul (Afghanistan) – The ceasefire agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan rests entirely on a single condition, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said. He said, ‘Any intrusion or attack originating from Afghan soil will be considered a violation of the agreement. Everything depends on this single clause. The Taliban Government in Afghanistan must ensure that its territory is not used by groups launching attacks against Pakistan. This clause is explicitly mentioned in the original agreement’. His statement has raised doubts about how long this ceasefire can actually last.

If Pakistan fails to fulfil its obligations, problems will arise : Afghanistan’s response

Following Pakistan’s statement, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence issued a strong rebuttal. Afghan Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid said, ‘All parties are obligated to adhere to every clause of the agreement. Afghanistan is fully committed to honouring these terms; however, if Pakistan fails to fulfil its responsibilities, it will lead to complications’. He further appealed to Turkey and Qatar, the mediating nations, to assist both countries in ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire.

Editorial Perspective

This development clearly shows that the war between Pakistan and Afghanistan is unlikely to end soon. If these two Islamic nations cannot coexist peacefully with each other, how can they ever be expected to live peacefully with a Hindu-majority nation like India ?