By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Pakistan is ready to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan if Kabul agrees to meet Islamabad’s “justified conditions” following recent cross-border hostilities.
The remarks came a day after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire, which began at 6pm local time on October 15 at Kabul’s request, according to the Foreign Office. The ceasefire followed a series of deadly clashes over the weekend that raised fears of a broader conflict.
Addressing the federal cabinet, PM Shehbaz said: “The message has been conveyed that if they want to fulfil our justified conditions through talks, we are ready. The ball is in their court.” He added that if Afghanistan is sincere, it should take the initiative to begin talks, noting that Qatar and other allies are also playing a mediating role.
The prime minister stressed the need for a long-term solution, including the elimination of Fitna al-Khawarij (TTP terrorists) from Afghan soil. He warned that if the ceasefire is merely a tactic to buy time, “Pakistan will not accept it.”
Shehbaz praised Pakistan’s armed forces and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their decisive response during the conflict. He also touched on Gaza’s ceasefire, lauding US President Donald Trump and Muslim countries for their mediation, and reiterated Pakistan’s support for a sovereign Palestinian state.
Additionally, PM Shehbaz welcomed Pakistan’s recent staff-level agreement with the IMF, terming it a significant step toward economic stability and stressing that it should be the country’s last IMF programme.
