Last week we cited that Afghanistan, and by default the IEA, was unable to justify their avowed and demonstrated hostility towards Pakistan, from a sociological (Pashtunwali, Riwaj), Islamic fraternity and/or good neighbourly stand points. That Afghanistan is in grave violation of the basic tenets of shegara (khegara) or doing good, and returning shegara with shegara for the massive humanitarian, economic, politico-military and diplomatic support (shegara) rendered by Islamabad during the last four decades. And that assistance in some form, even under IEA's overt hostility, continues.

The recent Pak-Afghan flare-up (effective October 9, 2025) now seems settled in Doha, if temporarily, through a Qatar-Türkiye brokered agreement on October 19. Key provisions of the Agreement reported (the text is not released) include: a) immediate and permanent ceasefire: b) end to cross-border terrorism; under this iteration, Mr Sohail Shaheen, the spokesperson for IEA, from his Doha Office, affirmed, in a tweet, Afghanistan's agreement that "support will not be provided to groups (mlatar - proxies) operating against the Government of Pakistan"; c) mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; d) avoiding targeting security forces, civilians, or critical infrastructure; e) establishment of a permanent mechanism to verify ceasefire's implementation; and f) follow-up meetings to ensure agreement's sustainability. The next round is scheduled in Istanbul on October 25.

Pakistan's deployment of punishing leverage against Kabul, especially the symbolic strikes on Kabul and Qandahar was the needed strategic posturing that should have been employed yesterday, not allowing the situation getting thus far. Afghanistan, under the IEA, unfortunately, is not a normal........

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