Pakistan’s prime minister warns Afghanistan about any cease-fire violation

by Caruizp, via Pixabay, July 30, 2020

Pakistan has warned Afghanistan that any violation of their fragile cease-fire will be met with retaliation, reflecting long-standing border disputes, mutual distrust, and rising tensions.

Pakistan’s defence minister has issued a warning towards Afghanistan that mentions that any breach of the recent cease-fire by Afghanistan will result in a response from Pakistan. He accused the Afghan side of waging a proxy campaign against Pakistan, mentioning particular militant groups operating from Afghan soil. This warning comes after several days of shelling and gunfights, which killed dozens of people on both sides of the border. The cease-fire itself reportedly came from pressure from border countries and was agreed at Afghanistan’s request; however, Pakistan’s warning showcases that stability is fragile and contingent on strict compliance.

The dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan arises from the 2,600+ km-long frontier known as the Durand Line. Afghanistan has long rejected this as a valid international border, viewing it as a colonial imposition since 1893. Pakistan, by contrast, considers it a legitimate border and views any denial as a threat to its territorial integrity. In the past decades, there have been various conflicts and distrust between both countries, with Afghanistan supporting Pashtun nationalist claims within Pakistan, while Pakistan, in turn, supported Islamist factions inside Afghanistan as part of its “forward policy” in the Cold War era.

In the post-2021 era, the dynamic changed further. When the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, Pakistan initially greeted it with optimism, hoping for friendly relations with Kabul. However, the Afghan Taliban regime began supporting groups like Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan accused of launching attacks against Afghanistan’s territory. For this reason, Islamabad now views the new situation as a strategic failure.