As a temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan was about to expire, Pakistan’s foreign minister stated on Monday that the nation is still dedicated to “eradicating the menace of terrorism”.
For the Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of Ramadan, both nations last Wednesday declared an end to weeks of fighting and agreed to a temporary truce that would run until Monday at midnight.
However, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the nation’s stance on the conflict remained unchanged in a statement to commemorate Pakistan Day, a national holiday.
“Pakistan remains firmly committed to eradicate the menace of terrorism,” he said in a statement. “Pakistan’s actions inside Afghanistan… are directed towards this goal.”
On Sunday, the Taliban government and a medical source said one person was killed by a mortar shell fired by Pakistan in the eastern border province of Kunar.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have been locked in conflict for months over claims from Islamabad that Kabul is harbouring extremists behind cross-border attacks on its territory.
The Taliban authorities deny the claim.
Following a Pakistani attack on a drug rehab facility in Kabul last Monday, which Afghan authorities claimed killed over 400 people, there was an Eid truce.
The most recent round of skirmishes, which started in February, came after previous unsuccessful attempts at mediation involving China and Gulf governments.
Since the beginning of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran last month, Gulf nations have turned their attention to the situation in their own backyard.
In his own Pakistan Day message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said military action inside Afghanistan was “a symbol of our national resolve against terrorism”.
“We will not allow any harm to the peace and security of our country,” he added.
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