Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused India of using Afghanistan to wage a “proxy war” against Pakistan, saying New Delhi is seeking revenge for its defeat and humiliation in the May 2025 conflict. Speaking to journalists, the minister said the political narrative emerging from Kabul is being orchestrated directly from New Delhi, claiming that the Afghan administration “does not possess independent decision-making authority.” He further stated that the Afghan Taliban government still does not have full control over Afghanistan. “This became clear to me during the very first round of talks,” he remarked. According to Khawaja Asif, friendly nations such as Qatar and Türkiye support Pakistan’s position on the situation in Afghanistan. He disclosed that the Taliban delegation had backed out after making commitments on at least five different occasions during negotiations. Issuing a stern warning, the Defence Minister said “If anyone looks towards Islamabad with hostile intentions, we will not hesitate to take their eyes out.” He added that Pakistan wants Afghanistan to conduct itself as a respectable, sovereign neighbor, not as a proxy for another power. Khawaja Asif also called for legal action against former Pakistani leaders who, in his words, “actively supported the Taliban in the past.” Two weeks ago, the Taliban government launched a border offensive following explosions in Kabul, triggering an outbreak of unexpectedly intense clashes that left dozens dead, among them civilians. Vowing a strong response, Islamabad then carried out “precision strikes” against armed groups on Afghan soil which are at the heart of the dispute, security sources said. After further clashes that left soldiers and civilians dead, both sides declared an initial 48-hour ceasefire which collapsed two days later. A second truce took shape last weekend following talks in Doha thanks to mediation by Qatar and Turkey, although the terms remained unclear.
India using Kabul to wage proxy war against Pakistan: Khawaja Asif
