Khawaja Asif Warns of Deteriorating Pakistan-Afghanistan Ties, Accuses Kabul of Exporting Terrorism

SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are worsening, warning that the current environment could lead to further strain — a situation Pakistan does not desire.

Speaking to a private news channel, Asif said that ties with Afghanistan have historically been far from ideal, and now terrorism is being exported from Afghan soil into Pakistan. “Pakistan wants relations based on mutual respect and dignity, like good neighbours,” he said, urging Kabul to take meaningful action against cross-border terrorism.

Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have intensified amid Afghanistan’s interim government’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups, particularly the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), responsible for a recent spike in attacks across Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly asked Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being used as a base for attacks, citing a porous 2,500-kilometre border that facilitates militant movement. These concerns were echoed in a recent United Nations Security Council report, which linked the Afghan regime to the TTP, accusing it of providing operational, financial, and logistical support.

During the interview, Asif also highlighted the role of local communities in fighting terrorism. “People living in areas where terrorists take refuge are usually aware of their presence,” he said. “If someone enters your neighbourhood from outside, you would know within three days. Silence in such cases amounts to partial consent.”

Read more: PTI warns against any unconstitutional step in KP and encourages dialogue to confront terrorism.

He added that the government would not allow any harm to come to patriotic citizens and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to internal security.

Crackdown on Illegal Afghan Nationals

Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades. However, amid rising security concerns, Islamabad launched a crackdown on undocumented Afghans and those overstaying their legal status. According to official data, over 554,000 Afghans have been repatriated since April 2025 under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, including 145,000 in August alone.

India Using Afghan Soil for Proxy War: Defence Minister

Commenting on regional security, Khawaja Asif said India’s recent statements indicate it may attempt another misadventure to regain lost pride. “India wants to erase the humiliation it suffered. But any future move will be met with a stronger response than before,” he warned. “The illusion India held about Pakistan has already been shattered.”

‘Seal the Border’: DG ISPR

A day earlier, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan had engaged Afghanistan through diplomatic channels including the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE before and after the Doha Agreement. He stated that the presence of non-state actors on Afghan soil was not only a threat to Pakistan but also dangerous for Afghanistan itself.

Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that Afghanistan must seal the border and ensure its territory is not used for terrorist activities. He also confirmed that Indian proxies are operating from Afghan soil, with concrete evidence provided to Kabul. He added that much of the American weaponry left behind after the US withdrawal has fallen into the hands of terrorist groups, worsening the regional threat landscape.