ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan is prepared to launch fresh strikes inside Afghanistan if authorities in Kabul fail to provide credible guarantees to prevent militant attacks against its territory.
In an interview with France 24 on Wednesday, the defence minister said Islamabad would not hesitate to act if peace was not ensured. “Pakistan won’t hesitate to conduct new strikes on Afghanistan, unless someone in Kabul can underwrite peace,” he stated.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul following border clashes in October last year, when Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants allegedly carried out attacks on Pakistani border posts. The ensuing fighting reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 200 Taliban and associated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred.
Pakistan subsequently carried out what it described as “precision strikes” deep inside Afghanistan, targeting suspected militant hideouts in Kandahar province and Kabul. Despite several rounds of talks, the two sides failed to reach a ceasefire, with Islamabad accusing the Afghan Taliban government of not taking decisive action against terrorist groups operating from its soil.
Asif alleged that India was waging a “proxy war” against Pakistan through militant attacks, claiming that New Delhi, Kabul and certain militant outfits were “on the same page” against Islamabad. He added that there has been no direct or indirect contact between Pakistan and India since their armed conflict in May 2025, warning that the possibility of another war with India “still exists”.
The minister said some friendly countries had attempted to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan to ease tensions, but those efforts had not yielded meaningful results.
Referring to the recent bombing of a mosque in Islamabad, Asif maintained that “almost all the franchises of terrorism” were present in Pakistan due to what he termed Kabul’s “non-seriousness” in curbing militancy, adding that complicity might be a more accurate description.
On foreign policy, Asif ruled out the prospect of Pakistan establishing diplomatic relations with Israel under current circumstances. He said recognition was “not on the cards at all”, reiterating Pakistan’s long-standing position of non-recognition in support of an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
However, he noted that Pakistan could “maybe” consider ties in the future if Palestinians achieved self-determination and secured an independent homeland.
Discussing the situation in Gaza, the defence minister said Pakistan would be willing to contribute to an international peacekeeping force if appropriate terms of reference were agreed upon. Highlighting Pakistan’s extensive experience in United Nations peacekeeping missions, he described potential participation in a Gaza force as an opportunity to help advance a two-state solution in the Middle East.
