Pakistan's Defense Minister Says Pressure on Taliban Will Continue Until Objectives Achieved

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that military pressure on the Afghan Taliban will continue until specific objectives are fully achieved.

Asif said the attacks initiated to meet these objectives have not yet been completed. He made the remarks amid recent escalations in border conflicts between Pakistan and the Taliban.

He noted that several countries, including Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and China, have attempted mediation to resolve the crisis between Islamabad and Kabul, but all efforts have been fruitless.

Asif emphasized China's potentially pivotal role, stating that China shares a border with Afghanistan and has extensive economic projects and investments there. He added that the Taliban in Kabul depend on China's financial resources and influence, which could help resolve the crisis.

China was one of the first countries to mediate between the Taliban and Pakistan, but those efforts have not yielded results, Asif said. He remarked that the diplomatic influence of Qatar and Turkey is not comparable to that of China.