Pak-Afghan tensions
\nTorkham border reopened to expel illegal Afghan nationals from country, not for trade, says defence czar
\n SIALKOT
\nAs Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to uphold ceasefire following days-long talks in Istanbul to ease tensions, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed optimism that mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkiye will yield positive results.
\nAsif revealed that the issue of Afghan nationals has, for the first time, been raised at the international level, adding that Turkiye and Qatar are playing a constructive mediatory role in the dialogue.
\nPakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime agreed to uphold ceasefire after multiple rounds of talks in Istanbul, read a joint statement issued on late Thursday, further stating: \u201cFurther modalities of the implementation will be discussed and decided in a principal level meeting in Istanbul on 6 November 2025.\u201d
\nPakistan and Afghanistan resumed peace talks in Istanbul after Islamabad said the earlier four-day discussions had collapsed without a breakthrough.
\nThe talks had broken down when the Taliban refused to provide verifiable guarantees that groups such as the TTP would not use Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan.
\nPakistan had recommenced talks at the request of mediators Turkey and Qatar to give peace another chance, while repeatedly urging Kabul to act against militants using its territory as a safe haven.
\n\u201cPreviously, Afghanistan refused to acknowledge responsibility for its nationals residing illegally in Pakistan, calling it Pakistan\u2019s issue,\u201d the minister told Geo News. \u201cNow, the matter has gained international ownership.\u201d
\nHe further noted that under the ongoing negotiations, a clause has been included stipulating that if any illegal activity originates from Afghan soil, Afghanistan will be held accountable.
\n\u201cThere has been no hostile activity from our side; the ceasefire violations are being committed by Afghanistan,\u201d Asif said, rejecting Kabul\u2019s claims that Pakistan\u2019s establishment is behind the tensions.
\nHe observed that there is widespread anger across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the province most affected by cross-border militancy.
\n\u201cThe entire nation, including political leaders and state institutions, stands united and wants an immediate resolution to the Afghan issue,\u201d Asif emphasised. \u201cThe only solution is for Afghanistan to end terrorism originating from its soil.\u201d
\nHe maintained that it would be preferable for both states to maintain civilised relations, warning that the international community is fully aware of the divisive tactics being used by Afghanistan.
\nHighlighting the shared burden of decades of conflict, Asif said, \u201cThe losses Pakistan has suffered over the past five decades are collective losses of both nations.\u201d
\nThe defence minister also accused India of waging a proxy war against Pakistan since the Ashraf Ghani era, asserting that the evidence is widely accepted now.
\n\u201cIf necessary, we will present proof,\u201d he said.
\nHe alleged that India seeks to keep Pakistan preoccupied on both its eastern and western borders.
\n\u201cOn the eastern front, India has already faced setbacks \u2014 Modi has gone silent,\u201d Asif remarked confidently, expressing optimism that mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkiye will yield positive results.
\nThe defence czar clarified that the Torkham border has been opened solely to facilitate the expulsion of illegal Afghan nationals from the country, not for trade activities.
\nAsif said that all trade at Torkham remains suspended, and visa processing is also on hold until the ongoing talks with Afghan authorities are concluded.
\nHe stressed that the deportation process must continue so that illegal Afghan residents cannot find excuses to return and resettle in Pakistan again.
\nThe repatriation of Afghan families from Pakistan was halted on October 11 due to border clashes between the two neighbouring countries.
\nThe clashes, which continued for several days before a ceasefire was brokered in Doha on October 19, had prompted Pakistan to seal all its borders with Afghanistan for trade and travel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pak-Afghan tensions Torkham border reopened to expel illegal Afghan nationals from country, not for trade, says defence czar SIALKOT As Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to uphold ceasefire following days-long talks in Istanbul to ease tensions, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed optimism that mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkiye will yield positive results. Asif revealed that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-512031","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n