Pakistan’s Defense Minister Accuses Taliban of Waging Proxy War for India
Following the announcement of a new ceasefire between the Taliban and Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, has cast doubt on the truce’s durability, accusing the Taliban of engaging in a proxy war on behalf of India.
Speaking to Geo News, Asif said the Taliban have effectively become a tool for India’s proxy conflict, a situation that has caused significant concern in Islamabad. He added that the ongoing instability along the shared border with Afghanistan has severely undermined trust between the two sides.
Recent tensions between the Taliban and Pakistani forces have escalated into violent clashes in recent days, reportedly resulting in dozens of casualties and injuries. Nevertheless, a 48-hour ceasefire was announced on Wednesday.
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban administration, confirmed the ceasefire, stating: “The ceasefire began at 5:30 PM on Wednesday at Pakistan’s request,” and stressed that Taliban forces are obligated to adhere to the agreement.
The Taliban administration has claimed it inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani positions in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes on areas in Kabul and Kandahar. These claims come amid conflicting narratives from both sides regarding the origin of the ceasefire.
The proxy war accusation underscores the fragile and tense nature of relations between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul. While the Taliban have repeatedly asserted their independence in foreign policy, the group’s closeness to certain regional powers has long been a source of skepticism.
