Islamabad: Escalating tensions further, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has made explosive claims, linking India to the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. He also announced that Islamabad is ending its ties with Kabul and told Afghans residing in Pakistan to go back to their “homeland.”
Khawaja Asif’s remarks came as the 48-hour ceasefire deadline came to an end at 6 pm local time. However, the truce was extended while representatives from both sides prepared to meet in Doha, Qatar, to work on resolving the ongoing tensions, media reports said.
“There will no longer be protest notes or appeals for peace; no delegations will go to Kabul. Wherever the source of terrorism lies, it will have to pay a heavy price,” Asif said in a post on X.
He claimed that Kabul has turned into a “proxy of India” and is working with New Delhi and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistan.
“The rulers of Kabul, who are now sitting in India’s lap and conspiring against Pakistan, were once under our protection, hiding on our land,” he claimed as he declared Islamabad “can no longer afford to have relations with Kabul like in the past”.
The unprovoked remarks followed Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day visit to India, which was officially meant to focus on trade and bilateral relations.
“All Afghans residing on Pakistani soil must return to their homeland; they now have their own government/caliphate in Kabul… Our land and resources belong to 250 million Pakistanis… Self-respecting nations do not thrive on foreign land and resources… Now they have their own government [or] caliphate in Kabul. It has been five years since the Islamic revolution … they must live with Pakistan as neighbours,” he said.
Asif said Pakistan is prepared and capable of defending itself if Kabul shows further aggression. He added that despite Islamabad’s “efforts and sacrifices over five years,” there has been no positive response from Kabul.
“Pakistan issued 836 protest notes to the Afghan side and another 13 demarches,” he said.
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