Khawaja Asif warns of worsening Afghan ties amid surge in terror attacks
SIALKOT – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are worsening, cautioning that the current trajectory could lead to further strain — something Islamabad does not desire.
Speaking to Media the minister said that relations with Afghanistan had never been ideal, adding that terrorism was being exported from Afghan soil into Pakistan.
“Pakistan wanted relations of respect and dignity, just like good neighbours,” he said, urging Afghanistan to cooperate in addressing cross-border terrorism.
Islamabad and Kabul are witnessing heightened tensions amid interim government’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups, operating from Afghan soil, in the backdrop of rising terror attacks in Pakistan.
The country has witnessed a surge in cross-border terror incidents since Taliban rulers returned to Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of KP and Balochistan.
The two nations share a porous border spanning around 2,500 kilometres with several crossing points which hold significance as a key element of regional trade and relations between the people across both sides of the fence.
However, the issue of terrorism remains a key for Pakistan, which has urged Afghanistan to prevent its soil from used by groups such as the TTP to carry out attacks inside the former’s territory.
Islamabad’s reservations have also been confirmed by a report submitted to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which has revealed a nexus between Kabul and the TTP, with the former providing logistical, operational, and financial support to the latter.
During today’s interview, Asif added that people living in areas where terrorists find refuge were usually aware of their presence.
“If someone from outside enters a neighbourhood, I would surely know within three days,” he remarked, adding that silence from locals in such cases amounts to partial consent.
Asif asserted that no harm would be allowed to come to patriotic Pakistan.
Pakistan has hosted Afghans for more than four decades, from the Soviet invasion through the Taliban takeover in 2021. Some refugees were born and raised in Pakistan; others are still waiting for third-country relocation.
According to media reports, following a 2023 crackdown on undocumented Afghans and those exceeding legal status, more than 554,000 Afghans have been returned since April 2025 under Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — including around 145,000 in August.
According to security sources, masterminds and facilitators of terrorism are based in Afghanistan and are being supported by India.
Speaking about India, the defence minister said New Delhi’s recent statements indicated it might attempt another misadventure.
He said that India was trying to restore its lost pride after suffering humiliation and warned that Pakistan would respond more forcefully than before. “The misconception or delusion India had has already been dispelled,” he added.
ISPR Urges Border Sealing and Regional Diplomacy
A day earlier, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reiterated Pakistan’s efforts to engage Afghanistan diplomatically, including through the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE, before and after the Doha Agreement.
“The space given to non-state actors in Afghanistan is dangerous not just for Pakistan but for Afghanistan itself,” the military spokesperson said.
He urged Kabul to seal its border and prevent militants from launching attacks from Afghan territory. He also noted that weapons left behind by U.S. forces post-withdrawal have fallen into the hands of terrorist groups.
“Pakistan has provided concrete evidence to Afghan authorities,” Chaudhry said, calling for urgent and decisive action.