Pakistan Warns Taliban of ‘Open War’ Over Cross-Border Militancy
Pakistan’s Defense Minister has warned the Taliban that Islamabad will resort to an ‘open war’ if the group does not halt its support for militants and what he described as ‘cross-border terrorism.’ Accusing the Taliban of becoming a proxy force for New Delhi, he claimed that India is advancing its war against Pakistan through Afghanistan.
Speaking on Wednesday in Pakistan’s National Assembly, Khawaja Asif stated that ‘there is now no difference between Delhi and Kabul,’ alleging that a single enemy is present on both the eastern and western borders of the country. He added that Taliban officials have refused to provide practical, written assurances to prevent armed activities against Pakistan.
The defense minister also claimed that India manages its conflict against Pakistan through Kabul. These remarks come amid unprecedented tension between Islamabad and the Taliban administration in recent months, with both sides repeatedly accusing each other of distrust and breaching commitments.
Islamabad has repeatedly demanded that Afghan soil not be used to launch attacks against Pakistan, a core point of contention between the two. The Taliban administration, however, has consistently denied these accusations, rejecting any support for armed groups or the use of Afghan territory against Pakistan.
Khawaja Asif further mentioned efforts to reduce tensions through dialogue mediated by Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia but emphasized that the continuation of the current situation will have serious consequences. As tensions escalate, border insecurity and mutual distrust have left the relationship between the two neighbors fragile.
