Pakistan ready to hold talks with Afghanistan

The temporary ceasefire that began yesterday between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan is ready to hold talks with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan on reasonable terms, stating, "The ball is now in the Taliban's court for a permanent ceasefire."

Claiming that the Taliban administration's latest attack on Pakistan was the result of provocation by India, Sharif said, "Unfortunately, despite all efforts, the Taliban administration in Afghanistan has not prioritized peace and has chosen the path of aggression."

Drawing attention to the increase in terrorist activities on the border between the two countries, Sharif emphasized that Pakistan was forced to launch a full-scale operation and reminded that high-level Pakistani officials had visited Afghanistan many times regarding these incidents.

TENSION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

Since the Taliban took control in 2021, Pakistan has been demanding that Afghanistan take measures against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, which is banned in Pakistan and operates in Afghanistan. In response to recent attacks by the TTP on its territory along the border, Pakistan carried out several airstrikes on Kabul on October 9. Tensions escalated after Afghanistan also responded to Pakistan's attacks. Clashes between the two countries stopped with the mediation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but resumed on October 14. At the request of Afghanistan, Pakistan declared a 48-hour temporary ceasefire on October 15.

In a statement made by the Pakistan Army's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) unit, it was reported that 200 Taliban forces were killed in the clashes on the Afghanistan border, 23 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives, 29 soldiers were wounded, and 21 border outposts belonging to Afghanistan were captured.