Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday night, Asif said, “I have my doubts that the ceasefire will hold, because the [Afghan] Taliban are being sponsored by Delhi. Right now, Kabul is fighting a proxy war for Delhi.” The remarks were reported by Dawn.com on Thursday.
Afghanistan-Pakistan ceasefire announced
The two neighbouring countries announced a ceasefire on Wednesday following several days of heavy border fighting that killed dozens on both sides. However, both governments have issued conflicting claims about who first proposed the truce.
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, “At the request and insistence of the Pakistani side, a ceasefire between the two countries will be implemented after 5:30 PM today.” He said Afghan forces were instructed “to observe a ceasefire from 5:30 pm until no one violates it.”
The ceasefire announcement came after reports of Pakistani air operations targeting areas in Kabul and Kandahar. While casualty figures remain unclear, Mujahid claimed that Afghan forces inflicted “heavy damage” on Pakistani military positions.
Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out multiple attacks in Pakistan. Kabul, on the other hand, blames Pakistan for repeated airstrikes and incursions into its territory.UN calls for restraint
The United Nations has urged both countries to avoid further escalation. “We are monitoring the situation between Afghanistan and Pakistan with concern,” ANI quoted Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, as saying, while calling for peaceful resolution through dialogue.During a recent six-day visit to India, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Afghanistan “wants peace with all countries” and does not seek confrontation. Responding to questions on the Pakistan border clashes, he said, “Afghanistan also has five other neighbours and all are happy with them.”