Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared on Thursday that the responsibility for establishing a permanent ceasefire now lies with the Afghan Taliban, following a temporary 48-hour truce aimed at de-escalating recent cross-border violence. Sharif emphasized that Pakistan is prepared to engage in dialogue if the Taliban addresses Islamabad’s concerns within the stipulated timeframe. He reiterated Pakistan’s demand for the elimination of Pakistani Taliban militants and stressed that Afghan territory must not be used as a base for planning attacks against Pakistan. The temporary ceasefire, which began at 6 pm Islamabad time on Wednesday, was implemented after a week of intense clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and its affiliates, a claim Kabul denies. Tensions escalated further last week when explosions rocked Afghan territory, including the capital, with Taliban officials blaming Pakistan for the attacks. The violence coincided with a rare diplomatic visit by Afghanistan’s foreign minister to India, Pakistan’s regional rival. In response to the border skirmishes, Afghan Taliban forces launched an offensive, prompting Pakistan to vow retaliation. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil for cross-border attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.