ISLAMABAD: Defence minister Khawaja Asif said diplomatic relations with Kabul were effectively severed after what Islamabad described as an “unprovoked” Afghan attack on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Khawaja Asif was on Geo News’ Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath, Khawaja Asif described the situation as a “stalemate” and said there were “no ties, direct or indirect, as of today.”
He warned that although there were no active hostilities, the environment remained hostile and clashes could resume.
“We cannot lower our guard,” Asif said, adding that any negotiation would require a halt to aggressive actions. “If Afghanistan wants negotiations while threatening Pakistan at the same time, then they should act on their threats and we’ll negotiate after,” he said.
Furthermore, Asif defended recent Pakistani strikes, saying they targeted militant hideouts and not civilian areas.
“If you are attacked, you instantly have the right to react and target wherever the attack is originating from,” he said.
The defence minister accused Kabul of providing sanctuary to a range of extremist groups, alleging that ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Taliban operate within Afghanistan’s borders.
Moreover, the Pakistani military reported heavy losses and retaliatory gains after the weekend clashes.
The military’s media wing said 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 29 wounded in skirmishes that began late on Oct. 11 and continued into the following day.
The ISPR said forces briefly captured positions across the border and inflicted extensive damage on militant infrastructure, while stressing that populated Afghan areas and civilians were not targeted.
In this sense, Afghanistan has claimed its actions were retaliatory, accusing Pakistan of earlier air strikes on Afghan soil. Islamabad has not confirmed carrying out cross-border air strikes but reiterated that Kabul must stop harbouring the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Asked about reports that TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud was present in Afghanistan, Asif said those targeted were in Afghan territory and pointed to previous Pakistani requests for their relocation. He urged greater honesty in diplomacy as a path toward de-escalation.
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The tense standoff appears to have left formal channels between the two neighbours frozen, raising concerns about the potential for renewed violence unless a diplomatic breakthrough is achieved.