Aman jirga calls for immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Aman Jirga on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire between the two countries and urged both nations to resolve their conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan. However, a brief ceasefire was observed at the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye in view of the Eidul Fitr holidays, which concluded at midnight between March 23 and 24.

Aspire Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the National Reform Movement organised the jirga today and emphasised the need for both countries to ensure that their territories were not used against each other.

The jirga was hosted by former chief secretary Arbab Shehzad Khan, with representatives from various political parties, religious scholars, the business community, and media professionals in attendance.

During a media briefing following the jirga, former governor Shaukatullah Khan said Pakistan and Afghanistan shared deep-rooted cultural, religious, and social ties.

"The jirga’s call for peace is grounded in the belief that war is not a solution to the issues between the two nations," he added.

The jirga leaders demanded an immediate ceasefire and called on both countries to ensure that their lands were not used against one another.

They stressed the importance of resolving all differences through negotiations and diplomatic means, as only mutual respect and understanding could guarantee lasting peace.

Furthermore, they proposed the establishment of a continuous communication platform to facilitate ongoing dialogue, allowing both nations to better understand each other's perspectives, challenges, and constraints.

The jirga’s participants expressed hope that through purposeful diplomacy and citizen engagement, Pakistan and Afghanistan could make significant strides towards peace, underscoring that mutual understanding and sustained efforts were essential for achieving this critical goal.

The latest round of hostilities began in late February, following a series of deadly attacks across Pakistan by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, for which Islamabad accused Afghanistan of sheltering them and failing to take action against them. Kabul denies the accusations.

It followed airstrikes from the Pakistani military targeting alleged TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan.

According to Kabul, the airstrikes killed dozens of civilians, whereas Islamabad claimed over 500 TTP militants were killed in the strikes.