Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has announced that the primary objective of a new ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan is to eliminate terrorism.

According to Radio Pakistan, Asif expressed in an interview with Al-Jazeera Arabic that terrorism has been a persistent issue affecting the border areas of both countries for years. He noted that both nations have recognized the urgent need to eradicate terrorism to prevent threats to regional peace.

Another meeting is scheduled to take place next week in Istanbul to finalize the details of the agreement. The Afghan Defence Minister has acknowledged that terrorism has been a significant factor in the strained relations between the two countries, which the agreement seeks to address.

Asif expressed optimism that the ceasefire will lead to the return of peace and normalization of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This development is expected to facilitate the resumption of Pakistan-Afghanistan trade and transit, allowing Afghanistan to use Pakistani ports once again.