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| Minister Khawaja Asif Confirms Peace Talks with Afghan Taliban / Screengrab X@the_hindu |
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has confirmed that the recent negotiations held in Qatar were conducted with the Afghan Taliban, not with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Speaking on Geo News program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, Asif clarified that the government has neither held talks with the TTP nor intends to do so in the future. “Imran Khan talks about negotiations with the TTP — those who murdered our children. We have not engaged with them and never will,” he stated firmly.
Asif explained that the Qatar discussions focused on establishing a ceasefire mechanism between Pakistan and Afghanistan, while the next round of follow-up talks will take place in Istanbul to finalize the framework for implementation. “The atmosphere during the Doha negotiations was not tense. Qatar and Türkiye played a credible mediating role, and both countries have considerable influence over the Afghan Taliban,” he noted.
The minister said that the agreed-upon mechanism would ensure compliance with the truce and that further talks in Türkiye could continue from October 25 to 27. “If any violation occurs, we will raise the issue with our brotherly countries,” he added.
Khawaja Asif revealed that the short, one-page agreement consists of four paragraphs and aims to establish a practical structure for peace. He emphasized that the TTP leadership remains based in Afghanistan and that Pakistan possesses solid evidence of their presence. “Terrorists are blending into civilian populations inside Afghanistan, and we have proof that attacks in Pakistan are directed from across the border,” he said.
The minister’s statement follows the recent agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan for an immediate ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Türkiye. Both sides also agreed to continue discussions in the coming days to develop a lasting framework for regional peace and stability.
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