ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday accused Afghanistan’s interim government of launching recent attacks on Pakistan at India’s behest, revealing that the assault took place while the Afghan foreign minister was in New Delhi.
Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister said that despite Pakistan’s consistent goodwill and deep cultural and religious ties with Afghanistan, recent aggression from Kabul had tested Islamabad’s patience.
“Pakistan and Afghanistan share a long border and a long history of brotherhood. Despite limited resources, Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades keeping the spirit of fraternity alive, he said.
The premier disclosed that Pakistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire at Kabul’s request, with Qatar playing a mediating role to prevent further escalation.
The Amir of Qatar has expressed readiness to facilitate lasting peace between the two countries, Shehbaz noted, adding that Islamabad remains open to dialogue if Kabul accepts Pakistan’s legitimate and clearly defined conditions.
We seek peace and progress through consultation, not confrontation, he emphasized.
Turning to regional developments, the prime minister hailed the recently brokered Gaza ceasefire as a positive and historic step toward ending bloodshed in Palestine. He credited Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Malaysia, and Türkiye for playing key roles in securing the truce.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s firm stance, Shehbaz said the creation of an independent Palestinian state in line with UN resolutions is essential for lasting peace in the Middle East. He also reiterated Islamabad’s unwavering support for the people of Kashmir.
In economic remarks, the prime minister announced that Pakistan had reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calling it a crucial step toward ensuring the country’s financial stability and growth.
This agreement marks an important milestone. But we must ensure this is Pakistan’s last IMF program by focusing on sustainable reforms, he added.
The remarks followed a week of intense cross-border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan that left dozens of troops and civilians dead on both sides.
Pakistan accuses Kabul of harboring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants responsible for attacks on its forces. The Taliban, however, deny the allegations, claiming that recent explosions inside Afghanistan were caused by Pakistani strikes incidents that occurred while Afghanistan’s foreign minister was visiting India, Pakistan’s traditional rival.
Following the attacks, Taliban forces launched offensives near the border, prompting Islamabad to respond with a strong retaliatory operation. The 48-hour truce, which began Wednesday evening, aims to de-escalate the situation and provide a window for dialogue.
Pakistan has consistently urged the Taliban government since 2021 to prevent terror groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks across the border.