Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson on Thursday accused Afghanistan of committing serious ceasefire violations, as tensions escalated following renewed fierce fighting between the neighboring countries this week.
Heavy Exchanges of Fire Resume
Heavy exchanges of fire between Pakistani security forces and Afghan Taliban fighters occurred this week, with each side blaming the other for initiating the attacks. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of targeting civilian sites, including a university in Kunar, on Sunday. Islamabad dismissed these allegations and accused Afghan forces of unprovoked aggression along their shared border.
Accusations of Militant Sanctuaries
Islamabad has long accused Afghanistan of harboring militants who carry out attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies these allegations and asserts that its territory is not used for attacks on third countries. The latest fighting has upended a Qatari-mediated ceasefire from October that had previously halted clashes between the neighbors. In March, both countries agreed to pause fighting ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr.
Spokesperson's Remarks
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that the ceasefire agreement with Afghanistan should not be viewed as a traditional agreement between the two sides. He alleged that Afghan authorities were directly involved in the assaults. Andrabi emphasized that these are more serious breaches of the ceasefire because direct Afghan authorities of the Afghan regime are involved in these attacks.
He explained that Pakistan interprets the ceasefire as an end to all attacks from Afghanistan, including those carried out by terrorist organizations and armed groups. For Pakistan, the ceasefire holding means that fire will cease, whether from Afghan forces or armed groups operating in Afghanistan under patronage.
Surge in Militant Attacks
Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks on its territory since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. Islamabad blames the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for most attacks and accuses Kabul of providing sanctuary to its members. Kabul rejects these accusations.
China's Mediation Efforts
China has mediated between both sides in an effort to end the conflict. Talks between representatives of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan were held in Urumqi earlier this month. Beijing stated that both sides agreed not to escalate tensions during the talks. However, Pakistan's military said earlier this month that it would continue strikes against militants operating from Afghan soil until their safe havens are fully eliminated.
