Key points:
• Defence Minister alleges India seeks to keep Pakistan preoccupied through indirect destabilisation
• Warns Afghan Taliban to prevent cross-border militancy or face consequences
• Says Pakistan’s patience is running thin over rising security incidents
• Calls for coordinated regional action against terrorism
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused India of pursuing a policy aimed at keeping Pakistan internally occupied through indirect efforts to destabilize its western front.
Simultaneously, he warned Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to curb militant activity or “pay the price.” The Defence Minister warned the Afghan Taliban in a firm tone, because it has become like an open secret now that India has been pampering the Taliban regime
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Asif said India “wants to keep Pakistan busy on multiple fronts” by exploiting regional vulnerabilities, particularly through elements operating from across the border. He linked the recent rise in cross-border terrorist incidents to what he described as a “calculated effort to stretch Pakistan’s security resources.”
In a parallel warning directed at Kabul, the minister said the interim Taliban government must “guarantee peace in Pakistan” by preventing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied groups from staging attacks on Pakistani soil. “If they fail to act, they will be held responsible for the consequences,” Asif stated, adding that Pakistan would safeguard its national security “by all necessary means.”
The Defence Minister emphasised that Islamabad had exercised restraint and repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to honour commitments under various security understandings. However, he noted that “continued inaction” against TTP sanctuaries had left Pakistan with limited options.
Asif also reiterated Islamabad’s stance that peace and stability in both countries are interlinked, stressing that “the region cannot afford another cycle of proxy conflict.” He said Pakistan remains open to cooperation but will not tolerate persistent violations of its sovereignty.
