Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has reiterated that the country is prepared to launch further military action if authorities in Kabul do not provide credible assurances of peace.
“Pakistan won’t hesitate to conduct new strikes on Afghanistan unless someone in Kabul can underwrite peace,” Asif told France 24 on Wednesday.
Tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border escalated last October, after the Afghan Taliban and allied militants launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistani border posts. The clashes resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred defending the nation.
Pakistan also carried out precision strikes deep inside Afghanistan, targeting terrorist hideouts in Kandahar province and Kabul. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, both countries have been unable to agree on a ceasefire, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to act against militant groups.
Asif said that India is waging a proxy war against Pakistan through militant attacks, adding that New Delhi, Kabul, and militant outfits “are on the same page.” He noted that Islamabad and New Delhi have had no direct or indirect contact since the May 2025 armed conflict between the two nations, and cautioned that war with India remains “a possibility.”
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Attempts by “friendly countries” to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said, have so far produced no tangible results.
Addressing domestic security concerns, including a recent mosque bombing in Islamabad, Asif stated that “almost all the franchises of terrorism” operate in Pakistan due to the Kabul government’s lack of seriousness in tackling militant groups, describing their inaction as tantamount to complicity.
On the issue of Israel, Asif reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding policy of non-recognition, stating that Islamabad has no plans to establish diplomatic relations. He said normalization might only be considered once Palestinians have secured an independent homeland and the right of self-determination. “So this [recognition] is not on the cards at all,” he said.
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Asif also commented on the situation in Gaza, noting that Pakistan is ready to contribute to an international peacekeeping force if the terms are favorable. He emphasized Pakistan’s extensive experience with United Nations peacekeeping missions and described participation in Gaza as a potential opportunity to support a two-state solution in the Middle East.
