ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to extend a ceasefire during talks in Istanbul after the worst border clashes between the neighbors in years, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday, adding that the onus was now on Kabul to take action against militant groups.
The fresh round of negotiations, facilitated by Turkiye and other friendly nations, was aimed at easing border clashes that left dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants dead, before a temporary ceasefire was reached on Oct. 19. A second round of talks that started in Istanbul on Oct. 25 failed to reach breakthrough earlier this week, before Turkiye announced on Thursday evening that the ceasefire would continue.
The clashes erupted after Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan against Pakistani Taliban militants it says are based there and responsible for attacks on its forces. Kabul condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and denies sheltering the group. The border, which runs more than 2,600 km (1,600 miles), has long been a source of friction with frequent skirmishes and mutual accusations over militant sanctuaries.
Information Minister Tarar described the outcome of the Istanbul talks as a “victory” for Pakistan and said the responsibility now rested with the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against militant groups, the state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported.
