Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan will not hesitate to launch fresh action if Kabul fails to provide credible guarantees of peace. Speaking to an international media outlet, the defence chief made it clear that Pakistan is prepared to strike again if cross border threats continue.
Asif stated that Islamabad cannot tolerate militant attacks originating from Afghan soil. He emphasized that previous precision strikes were carried out to target terrorist hideouts after repeated provocations along the border. According to him, despite several rounds of dialogue, meaningful progress has not been achieved due to Kabul’s failure to act decisively against armed groups.
The minister accused India of waging a proxy war against Pakistan through militant networks, claiming that New Delhi and Kabul are aligned against Islamabad. He further noted that direct or indirect contact between Pakistan and India has remained suspended since the armed conflict in May 2025. He described war with India as still a possibility, depending on regional developments.
Highlighting Pakistan’s internal security challenges, Asif linked rising terror incidents to what he termed the non seriousness of Afghan authorities in curbing extremist outfits. He said multiple militant franchises are active because safe havens remain unchecked across the border.
On foreign policy matters, the defence minister reiterated that Pakistan has no immediate plans to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. He maintained that recognition could only be considered if Palestinians secure an independent homeland with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital. Until then, he said, normalization is not on the table.
Asif also expressed willingness for Pakistan to contribute to an international peace force in Gaza, provided the terms are clear and aligned with a two state solution. He underlined Pakistan’s long standing experience in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
