ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of attempting to keep Pakistan “engaged on both the eastern and western fronts” amid intensified regional tensions with New Delhi and Kabul.
Khawaja Asif was on Geo News, alleged that India was involved in acts of terrorism inside Pakistan, saying evidence existed to substantiate the claims.
“If there is a need for evidence, then we have it, about what involvement India has in terrorism and how it wants to keep us busy on two fronts,” he stated.
The minister said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been “silenced” after India’s defeat in the May conflict, expressing confidence that ongoing talks with Afghanistan would yield positive results.
Furthermore, his statements came a day after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to continue a ceasefire following last month’s brief but intense clashes along their border.
In addition, the agreement, reached during talks in Istanbul, followed weeks of strained relations after Pakistan carried out airstrikes on October 9 targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
The strikes prompted retaliatory fire on October 11, leading to several days of hostilities before a ceasefire was brokered in Doha on October 18–19.
Moreover, the latest Istanbul round was indicated by tense negotiations, with mediators reportedly working to prevent the talks from collapsing as both sides inched toward a fragile peace.
However, Asif further focused on the fact that Pakistan’s leadership including political figures, the establishment, and the public was united in seeking an end to terrorism originating from Afghan territory.
“An immediate solution to the Afghanistan issue is very necessary, which is that terrorism from Afghan soil should be completely stopped,” he said.
Meanwhile, the tensions with India remain uneasy despite a United States-brokered ceasefire following the May conflict.
Indian leaders have continued to issue aggressive statements, repeating allegations of terrorism and warning of “geographical changes” in any future confrontation.
