Defence Czar urges Kabul to act against terrorists as relations reach new low

• Kh Asif stresses Pakistan seeks ‘respectful, brotherly’ ties with Afghanistan, cautioning prevailing environment further straining bilateral ties
• Regrets Afghan soil being used for terrorism against Pakistan, demanding Kabul to prevent use of its soil by TTP terrorists

SIALKOT: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are deteriorating, warning that the prevailing environment could further strain bilateral ties—a situation Islamabad does not desire.

“Pakistan wants relations of respect, dignity, and brotherhood, just like good neighbors, and we expect Afghanistan to cooperate in addressing cross-border terrorism,” the minister said in an interview with a private TV channel on Saturday.

Asif noted that relations between the two countries had “never been ideal,” alleging that terrorism was being exported from Afghan soil into Pakistan. He reiterated that Islamabad’s expectations of “mutual respect and cooperation” were essential for regional peace.

Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated in recent months amid the interim Afghan government’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups operating from its territory. Pakistan has seen a surge in cross-border attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The two neighbours share a porous 2,500-kilometer border with multiple crossings crucial for trade and people-to-people ties. However, terrorism remains a persistent challenge, with Pakistan repeatedly urging Kabul to prevent its soil from being used by groups such as the TTP.

Asif said residents of areas harbouring terrorists were often aware of their presence, adding that “silence in such cases amounts to partial consent.” He vowed that patriotic citizens would face no harm, while terrorists and their facilitators would be dealt with firmly.

Highlighting Pakistan’s decades-long support for Afghans, the minister noted that over 554,000 undocumented Afghans had been repatriated since April 2025 under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, including about 145,000 in August.

Asif also alleged that masterminds of terrorism were based in Afghanistan and receiving support from India, whose recent statements, he warned, indicated the possibility of “another misadventure.” Pakistan, he asserted, would respond “more forcefully than before.”

A day earlier, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan had engaged Afghanistan through multiple diplomatic channels—including the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE—but cautioned that “space given to non-state actors in Afghanistan is dangerous for both countries.”

He urged Kabul to “seal the border” and stop its territory from being used for attacks on Pakistan, adding that India was exploiting Afghan soil for proxy operations and that much of the American weaponry left after the US withdrawal had fallen into the hands of terrorist groups.

A recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team also confirmed Islamabad’s concerns, revealing operational, financial, and logistical links between Kabul and the TTP.