Pakistan’s Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused the Taliban regime in Afghanistan of “evading its responsibility” to take action against militants involved in cross-border attacks. Asif claimed that the Taliban regime has been inactive over the matter and has ignored repeated requests from the Pakistani government to address the issue. These accusations were made in an interview with BBC Urdu, where Asif revealed that Islamabad hoped for cooperation from the Afghan government. He went on to say that Pakistan had even offered to grant Rs10 billion to shift the militants towards the western border, but expressed concerns that they could potentially return from there as well.
Asif’s remarks came just days after he announced that Pakistan would be launching Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, targeting terrorist hideouts across the border in Afghanistan. His previous statements dismissing the possibility of negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have further fueled tensions.
Asif’s stance has drawn criticism from opposition parties in Pakistan. Jamiat Ulema e Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed concern about the potential consequences of such aggressive rhetoric, stating that it could negatively impact Pak-Afghan relations and isolate Pakistan regionally.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also condemned Asif’s remarks, arguing against meddling in another country’s affairs. The united opposition in the National Assembly emphasized that Pakistan should not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, just as they would not tolerate interference in their own affairs.
Opposition leaders, including former NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, expressed concern that Asif’s statements could jeopardize the “brotherly” relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and threaten regional peace. They highlighted the risk of escalating conflict and instability in the region, given Pakistan’s already strained relations with India.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub emphasized his party’s opposition to dragging Pakistan into “someone else’s war.” The diverse political landscape within Pakistan is clearly reflected in the contrasting opinions surrounding the country’s approach to dealing with cross-border terrorism. While the government pursues military action, opposition parties raise concerns about the potential consequences for regional stability and diplomatic relations.
