Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan could respond “in the same way it did against India last year” if Afghanistan fails to stop the use of its territory by militant groups, according to remarks made in the National Assembly.
Addressing lawmakers, the Defence Minister said that Afghanistan has effectively become an instrument of Indian policy, alleging that militant networks operating from Afghan soil continue to target Pakistan. He stated that “Kabul is fighting a Hindutva war against Pakistan,” and drew a parallel between the security challenges posed from both India and Afghanistan, while stressing that Islamabad prefers peaceful relations.
Khawaja Asif said Pakistan had repeatedly attempted diplomatic engagement with Kabul through regional partners including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, but said these efforts had not produced binding assurances. He added that during talks in Qatar, Afghan authorities had verbally agreed to commitments but later refused to provide written guarantees against cross-border terrorism.
The minister said Pakistan’s key demand is a formal written commitment from Kabul ensuring that Afghan territory is not used for attacks against Pakistan and that militant groups operating there are dismantled. He warned that continued inaction could escalate tensions further, stating that the situation may move toward “open conflict” if diplomacy fails.
Referring to recent militant attacks, Asif said Pakistan’s security forces continue to make sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He also noted that backchannel diplomatic efforts through third countries are still ongoing, though details remain undisclosed.
On domestic coordination, the minister said provincial cooperation on counterterrorism has improved and that stakeholders are now aligned on the need to eliminate militancy. He also confirmed that legislation regarding military courts would be introduced soon, while reiterating that legal appeals remain available to accused individuals.
