Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the federal government was ready to talk if Afghanistan agreed to fulfil Pakistan’s “justified” conditions following recent hostilities between the two countries.
Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to a temporary ceasefire after a fresh round of deadly cross-border clashes that threatened to escalate into a wider conflict. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the ceasefire, implemented at the Taliban’s request and with mutual consent, took effect at 6pm local time and would last for 48 hours.
The announcement followed sustained hostilities between the two countries over the weekend.
Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet today on the situation, PM Shehbaz said officials from Pakistan had visited Kabul many times and engaged in cordial dialogue on resolving their issues together with mutual agreement for the sake of 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 provide a comprehensive response by the Pakistan Army.”
After the latest round of conflict, he said the Afghan side had asked for a ceasefire and made a request. “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. The ball is in their court.”
He said if the Afghan side was sincere and serious then it would initiate matters to hold talks, adding that Pakistan’s allied nations, particularly Qatar, were also making efforts to resolve the situation.
PM Shehbaz said the Qatari emir had condemned the entire episode in talks with him in Egypt and expressed his desire to play a role to cool down tensions.
He expressed hope that the rcu
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