ISLAMABAD – Pak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has raised serious concerns over the fragile ceasefire with Afghanistan, accusing the Afghan Taliban of acting as proxies for India.
Speaking to the media, he claimed that the Taliban were working under Indian influence and allowing militant groups like the TTP and Daesh to use Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan.
The Pak Defence Minister stated that Kabul is, in effect, “waging war on Pakistan on behalf of India.” He cautioned that while Pakistan seeks peace, it is fully prepared to defend itself against any aggression. “If they expand the scope of hostilities, God willing, we will respond with full force,” Asif said firmly.
Khawaja Asif described the current ceasefire as weak and unlikely to hold, stressing that Pakistan would welcome constructive dialogue but would never tolerate border violations. “If they shell our border areas or attack our posts, we will retaliate. We do not want conflict, but our right to self-defence is absolute,” he warned.
The Pak Defence Minister also rejected what he termed as “false propaganda” coming from Kabul. He referred to viral videos claiming that Taliban fighters had captured Pakistani tanks, which he dismissed as fabricated. “We don’t even have such tanks; perhaps they bought them from a scrap dealer,” Asif remarked sarcastically.
When asked about a potential defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Asif said that friendly countries could play a mediating role but noted that discussions were still speculative.
He urged Afghanistan to stop allowing the TTP and other militant groups to operate from its territory against Pakistan, reiterating that this issue has long been a source of tension between the two neighbours.
In other news read more about Pakistan and Afghanistan Agree on Temporary 48-Hour Ceasefire
As border clashes intensify, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a historic low. Khawaja Asif’s warning highlights Islamabad’s readiness to respond decisively if its sovereignty is challenged.
