ISLAMABAD; Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday expressed doubts over the durability of the 48-hour ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, accusing Kabul of acting as a “proxy of Delhi” amid escalating border tensions.
Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath’, Asif said that the Afghan Taliban were “fighting a proxy war” on behalf of India and had become “stooges” of New Delhi.
“I have my doubts that the ceasefire will hold, because the [Afghan] Taliban are being sponsored by Delhi. Kabul is fighting a proxy war for Delhi,” he asserted.
The defence minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness and capability to respond to any aggression. “We have the capability and we will attack them, God willing, if they escalate or widen the radius of this war,” he said.
He described the current truce as fragile, adding that it was reached only after intervention from friendly countries.
Asif emphasised that Pakistan supports constructive dialogue but will not tolerate attacks on its territory. “If they bombard our border areas or attack our posts, we have to respond in kind.
We do not want war, but we will defend ourselves if attacked,” he warned.
Commenting on disinformation from Afghanistan, he said, “I endorse the 48-hour ceasefire, but Kabul has been spreading lies.
They are showing videos claiming they have captured a Pakistani tank — but we don’t even have that model; they probably bought it from a junk dealer.”
Regarding the role of the Pakistan Air Force, Asif did not share operational details but maintained that Pakistan has the “right and capability to bomb or attack any part of Afghanistan” if required.
On a question about the mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, he said friendly nations may intervene, though it remains speculative at this stage.
Tensions at the border have surged, marking the third major clash in a week, including incidents in Kurram and other locations since Saturday night.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent terrorists from using Afghan soil for attacks on Pakistan, but Afghanistan denies these allegations.
