ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused India of using Afghanistan to wage a “proxy war” against Pakistan, as reported by ARY News. He said India seeks revenge for its defeat and humiliation in the May 2025 war. According to Asif, Kabul is staging a drama that is being directed from New Delhi. He argued that the Afghan Taliban government lacks independent authority in negotiations.
Asif said he realized during the first round of talks that the Taliban regime does not fully control Afghanistan. He emphasized that friendly nations, including Qatar and Türkiye, support Pakistan’s stance on the ongoing security dispute with Kabul.
Taliban repeatedly backed out of commitments
The minister revealed that the Afghan delegation withdrew from agreed assurances on five separate occasions. He warned that Pakistan will respond forcefully to any hostile action. “If anyone dares to look towards Islamabad with ill intent, their eyes will be taken out,” he said.
Asif stressed that Pakistan wants Afghanistan to act as a dignified neighbour, not as a proxy for another state. He also called for legal accountability for former Pakistani leaders who, in his view, supported the Taliban in the past.
Warnings of “open war” amid fragile ceasefire talks
Negotiators from both countries continued efforts in Istanbul to secure a lasting ceasefire. Pakistan warned that a failure in talks could trigger “open war.” The latest escalation began two weeks ago after blasts in Kabul led to Afghan border offensives. Intense clashes followed, causing dozens of civilian and military casualties on both sides.
Pakistan responded with precision strikes targeting terrorist groups allegedly operating from Afghan territory. A 48-hour ceasefire was announced soon after the clashes, but it collapsed quickly. A second truce emerged last weekend in Doha with the help of Qatar and Türkiye. However, the terms remain unclear and tensions persist along the border. Pakistan maintains that it will defend itself while aiming for regional peace.
