Asif alleges India using Afghan soil for proxy war on Pakistan

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged that India is waging a "low-intensity war" against Pakistan using Afghan territory, saying Islamabad has presented evidence to international interlocutors backing its claims.

Speaking to Al Arabiya English’s web show Counterpoints, Asif said the Taliban regime and New Delhi have longstanding ties and referenced recent border clashes that coincided with a visit to India by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. He claimed Pakistan retaliated after cross-border attacks in which soldiers were martyred.

Asif argued the Taliban authorities often agree to counterterrorism steps during talks but resist putting commitments in writing. He said Pakistan wants written assurances so the international community can judge Kabul’s obligations on sheltering militants, particularly the TTP and other groups.

The minister maintained that the Taliban regime poses a threat not only to neighbours but to global peace. Islamabad’s four-day talks with Afghan representatives in Istanbul ended without progress, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said earlier, calling the outcome a failure to reach a workable solution.

A clip of Asif’s interview was also shared by Al Arabiya on Instagram:

Separately, Asif issued a stern warning to Kabul on X, saying Pakistan had engaged in talks at the request of friendly countries to "give peace a chance" but would respond decisively to any future attacks. He said the armed forces would not need to use "even a fraction" of their arsenal to push the Taliban "back to the caves," invoking the spectre of a repeat of Tora Bora-style routs.