Party Will Stand with Pakistan If Tensions with Afghanistan Escalate

Web Desk; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Wednesday that his party would fully support Pakistan if hostilities with Afghanistan resume amid rising tensions between the two neighboring countries.

In recent weeks, relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated, marked by border clashes, mutual accusations, and diplomatic strain. The escalation began on October 11, when Pakistan came under attack from across the Afghan border. The Afghan Taliban later accused Islamabad of conducting airstrikes inside Afghanistan—an allegation that Pakistan has neither confirmed nor denied.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Capital Talk,’ Gohar said, “If hostilities with Afghanistan erupt again, PTI will stand with Pakistan, just as we did during the brief conflict with India in May. Afghanistan will be no different.”

He stressed that Pakistan should strive for peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. “It’s in Pakistan’s best interest to live peacefully with all its neighbours,” he added.

Quoting a proverb, Gohar said, “The one who has the most at stake must exhaust all avenues. Pakistan has a lot at stake, and if Afghanistan is open to dialogue, we should continue exploring all channels until we reach consensus.”

He noted that the situation in Afghanistan remains complicated, as the Taliban do not have full control over the country. “If the Afghan Taliban attack Pakistan, the response will be the same as against India. But that does not mean dialogue should stop during war. Talks must continue, and Pakistan’s friendly nations should use their influence to persuade the Taliban toward peace,” he said.

The PTI chairman also stated that Pakistan has the right to self-defense under the UN Charter, but emphasized that Afghanistan has the same right. “As neighbours, we must learn to understand one another,” he said.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan soil against Pakistan—a claim the Taliban reject. Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to face deadly attacks, with several soldiers martyred in recent intelligence-based operations near the border. Following the October 11 skirmish, multiple clashes were reported along the frontier, while Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes targeted militant camps of the Gul Bahadur group inside Afghanistan.