Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that Afghanistan is fighting ‘India’s proxy war’, alleging that decisions are being made not in Kabul but in New Delhi. He also cast doubts over the recently agreed ceasefire between the two neighbours after a spate of cross-border clashes.

He also alleged that Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, had made “plans" during his recent six-day visit to India. The visit, which was his first to New Delhi, was officially centred on trade and bilateral relations, but Asif alleged it had other motives.

A 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan came into effect late Wednesday after days of intense cross-border clashes that left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead.

The truce began at 6 pm Islamabad time (1300 GMT) and was confirmed by both governments, each claiming the other had requested it to halt the escalating violence.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said both sides would “sincerely strive to find a positive solution to this complex but resolvable issue through constructive dialogue" during the ceasefire period.

In Kabul, the Taliban government said it had directed its forces to respect the truce “unless it is violated" by Pakistan.

The ceasefire followed a week of heavy fighting along the southern border, where the Taliban had launched an offensive targeting Pakistani positions.

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan’s government and military of backing the Islamic State’s local Khorasan wing and aiding its attacks inside Afghan territory. Pakistan, on the other hand, blames Kabul for harbouring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and supporting its assaults on Pakistani security forces.

The recent wave of attacks followed Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul last week, reportedly aimed at eliminating a TTP leader. Afghanistan claimed there was no significant damage from the strikes but retaliated by targeting Pakistani border posts along the Durand Line, the 2,640-kilometre international boundary between the two countries.

Source: News18