Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that Afghan authorities need to make sincere and tangible efforts to address Pakistan’s legitimate concerns to achieve a durable ceasefire. He made this statement while chairing the Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister mentioned that Pakistan agreed to an interim ceasefire of forty-eight hours upon Afghanistan’s request, emphasizing that the next steps depend on Kabul’s decision to resolve the matter peacefully. He reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that Pakistan was compelled to respond to terrorist activities originating from Afghan soil, which resulted in the loss of innocent civilians and security personnel. Despite conveying these concerns through diplomatic channels, there has been no satisfactory response from Afghanistan.

On another note, regarding the peace deal in Gaza, the Prime Minister termed the halting of bloodshed and hostilities as a significant achievement, crediting the strenuous efforts of US President Donald Trump and other countries, including Pakistan, Turkiye, and Qatar. He affirmed Pakistan’s continued support for the rights of the people of Palestine and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister also praised his economic team’s efforts in securing a Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund. He emphasized the importance of making Pakistan economically strong and stable, expressing hope that this should be the last program for the country.