Shehbaz Sharif Says Pakistan Ready for Dialogue If Afghanistan Meets ‘Justified Conditions’
Islamabad [Pakistan]: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Pakistan was prepared to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan if Kabul fulfilled Islamabad’s “justified” conditions, following recent cross-border hostilities between the two sides, Dawn reported.
According to the report, Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday agreed to a temporary ceasefire after deadly border clashes that threatened to escalate into a wider conflict. The Foreign Office confirmed that the ceasefire—requested by the Taliban and mutually agreed upon—came into effect at 6 p.m. local time on October 15 and would last for 48 hours.
Addressing the federal cabinet after the latest flare-up, Shehbaz said, “Yesterday we decided on a temporary 48-hour ceasefire, and the message has been sent that if they wish to fulfill our justified conditions through dialogue, then we are ready. The ball is in their court.”
The prime minister said if the Afghan authorities were “sincere and serious,” they would take the initiative to engage in talks. He added that Pakistan’s allies, particularly Qatar, were working to help defuse tensions.
Shehbaz expressed hope that the dispute would be resolved on a lasting basis, emphasizing the need to eliminate the “Fitna al-Khawarij” from Afghan soil so it would no longer serve as a haven for terrorists.
He reiterated that Pakistan expected the ceasefire to hold and evolve into a sustainable peace based on “solid demands,” warning, “If this was only done to buy time, then we won’t accept it.”
The premier recalled that Pakistani officials had travelled to Kabul several times for “cordial dialogue” to resolve issues peacefully but said those efforts had not yielded results.
Shehbaz also mentioned that during his meeting in Egypt, the Emir of Qatar condemned the recent border incident and expressed readiness to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul.
He lauded the armed forces and Army Chief General Asim Munir for their response during the clashes, saying it was “necessary” given the heavy toll of counterterrorism operations.
Commenting on developments in Gaza, the prime minister said it would be a “great achievement” if fighting and bloodshed had ceased in the besieged enclave. He appreciated the efforts of “US President Donald Trump and all Muslim countries,” particularly Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, Indonesia, and the UAE, in facilitating the ceasefire.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance, Shehbaz said, “The Palestinians should get their own state,” adding that Islamabad would continue to support their cause.
He also welcomed Pakistan’s recent staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and commended his economic team for their efforts, saying, “This should be the last programme that Pakistan enters with the IMF.” He stressed that the country must strive to become self-reliant through “continuous struggle and effort.”
