PESHAWAR:
The Pakistan-Afghanistan Aman Jirga on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire between the two countries and urged both nations to resolve their conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq after Afghan Taliban forces fired at several locations, prompting Pakistan to quickly retaliate militarily. However, a brief ceasefire was observed at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye in view of the Eidul Fitr holiday, which ended at midnight between March 23 and 24.
Aspire Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and National Reform Movement organized the jirga today and stressed the need for both countries to ensure that their territories were not used against each other.
The jirga was hosted by former chief secretary Arbab Shehzad Khan, with representatives from various political parties, religious scholars, business and media professionals present.
Addressing a media briefing after the jirga, former governor Shaukatullah Khan said that Pakistan and Afghanistan shared deep-rooted cultural, religious and social ties.
“The jirga’s call for peace is grounded in the belief that war is not a solution to the problems between the two nations,” he added.
The jirga leaders demanded an immediate ceasefire and urged both countries to ensure that their lands were not used against each other.
They emphasized the importance of resolving all differences through negotiations and diplomatic means, as only mutual respect and understanding could guarantee lasting peace.
Furthermore, they proposed the establishment of a continuous communication platform to facilitate ongoing dialogue so that both nations can better understand each other’s perspectives, challenges and limitations.
Jirga participants expressed hope that through targeted diplomacy and civic engagement, Pakistan and Afghanistan could make significant progress towards peace, stressing that mutual understanding and sustained efforts were essential to achieving this critical goal.
The latest round of hostilities began in late February, following a series of deadly attacks across Pakistan by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, whom Islamabad accused Afghanistan of harboring and failing to act against. Kabul denies the accusations.
It followed airstrikes by the Pakistani military targeting alleged TTP hideouts in Afghanistan.
According to Kabul, the airstrikes killed dozens of civilians, while Islamabad claimed that over 500 TTP militants were killed in the attacks.
