By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned on Thursday that a temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan would not be tolerated as a mere stalling tactic, saying Pakistan stood ready for talks only if Kabul met Islamabad’s “justified” conditions to curb cross-border militancy.
The remarks came a day after the two neighbours agreed to a 48-hour truce following deadly clashes along their shared border, underscoring the fragility of the pause amid a surge in violence that has strained relations and disrupted vital trade routes.
Addressing his federal cabinet, Sharif said the Afghan side had requested the ceasefire, which took effect at 6 pm local time on Wednesday. “Yesterday we decided the temporary 48-hour ceasefire [and] the message has been sent that if they want to fulfil our justified conditions through talks, then we are ready,” he said. “The ball is in their court.”
Sharif urged Kabul to show sincerity by initiating steps toward dialogue, adding that allies like Qatar were aiding mediation efforts. The prime minister voiced hope for a lasting resolution, including the expulsion of the Fitna al-Khawarij — a term used by Pakistani officials for militants tied to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — from Afghan soil to prevent its use as a terrorist haven.
Sharif emphasised that the truce must rest on “solid demands.” “If this was only done to buy time then we won’t accept it.” He noted that Pakistani delegations had visited Kabul repeatedly for constructive talks on shared issues, aimed at fostering peace and prosperity. “Unfortunately, despite all efforts, this was not possible and when this attack was ongoing on Pakistan, on India’s complete incitement, their (Afghan) Foreign Minister [Amir] Muttaqi was in New Delhi, so we were forced to give a comprehensive response,” Sharif said.
Sharif lauded the armed forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their actions, deeming them “necessary” given the losses suffered by security personnel in anti-terrorism efforts. The prime minister’s comments coincided with a military announcement detailing counterterrorism successes amid the border tensions.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the armed forces’ media wing, said on Thursday that 34 “India-backed” terrorists had been killed in intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province from Oct. 13 to 15.
“From 13-15 October 2025, thirty-four khawarij belonging to Indian-proxy Fitna-al-Khawarij were killed in multiple engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,” the ISPR statement read, referring to TTP affiliates. The operations targeted North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Bannu districts.
In Spinwam, North Waziristan, troops clashed intensely with militants, killing 18. Another firefight in South Waziristan neutralised eight more. In Bannu, security forces eliminated an additional eight. Sanitisation efforts continued “to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji,” the ISPR said, vowing that the Azm-i-Istehkam campaign — endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan — would persist “at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”
Sharif, in a separate statement, hailed their “professional expertise” in foiling terrorist plots and pledged unwavering efforts to safeguard citizens and national integrity. “The counter-terrorism campaign will continue with full vigour until the complete eradication of the menace of terrorism from the country,” he said.
The developments highlight a broader escalation in attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the TTP renounced a tenuous ceasefire with Islamabad in November 2022 and targeted security forces. Last week, ISPR Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, as of Sept. 15, 10,115 operations in 2025 had killed 970 terrorists, at the cost of 311 army lives. In 2024, 14,535 operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa eliminated 769 militants, including 58 Afghans, while claiming 272 army and Frontier Corps personnel, 140 policemen and 165 civilians.
Lt. Gen. Chaudhry cited causes including lapses in National Action Plan execution, politicized counterterrorism, India’s purported exploitation of Afghanistan for attacks on Pakistan, advanced arms supplies to militants and a “terrorism-crime nexus” backed locally and politically.
The strife has halted commerce at key crossings. Details emerging Thursday revealed that Torkham and Chaman borders were shut to trade since Sunday due to the security crisis, per a notification from the Directorate General of Transit Trade
Transit vehicles for Afghanistan, fitted with tracking devices and RFID seals under an Oct. 1 system, were stranded. “These border terminals have limited parking spaces, leading to severe congestion,” the notification stated. “Moreover, prolonged parking/stoppage of vehicles can encourage device theft as well as seal tampering that can lead to pilferage of bonded cargo. In addition, in the absence of return journeys, there is [a] possibility of a shortage of tracking devices at the Port terminals.”
By Wednesday, 107 vehicles reached Torkham and 357 Chaman, with 37 and 85 more inbound, respectively. Processing was suspended to avert risks until normalcy returns. These routes, handling items like produce, saw Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan climb 38.68 percent to $773.89 million this fiscal year, from $558.03 million prior.
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