Pakistan Defense Minister Warns of Airstrikes in Afghanistan if Necessary

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Islamabad would not hesitate to conduct aerial operations inside Afghanistan if needed.

In an interview with a French media outlet, Asif claimed that recent attacks in Pakistan stem from a "proxy war" involving the Taliban in Afghanistan and India. He alleged that militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS, are behind cross-border attacks on Pakistan. Asif asserted that elements in Kabul and New Delhi are connected to these armed groups targeting Pakistani territory.

Asif emphasized that such attacks inside Pakistan could not occur without the consent or support of Taliban officials. He described these groups as a continued threat to regional stability due to their presence in Afghanistan.

The minister also warned of the ongoing risk of war with India, noting that tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remain high.

Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have been tense in recent years over security concerns. Amid the failure of four rounds of talks, the intensity of conflicts and attacks in Pakistan has increased. Senior Pakistani officials, including the president, defense minister, and other security figures, have blamed Afghanistan as the origin of these attacks and indicated plans for airstrikes on Afghan soil.