Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the Afghan Taliban are simultaneously issuing threats and expressing a desire for dialogue, urging them to first act on their threats before talking about negotiations.
Speaking on a private TV program, Khawaja Asif stated that if any country launches an attack on Pakistan, Islamabad has the right to respond. He made it clear that Pakistan has not targeted Afghan civilians, emphasizing that military action has been directed solely against terrorist hideouts operating from Afghan soil.
“The Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s statements hold little credibility,” the minister said, adding that Afghanistan has become a safe haven for multiple terrorist groups posing a serious threat to Pakistan’s security.
Khawaja Asif further clarified that the protection of Pakistan’s borders is the responsibility of the federal
government, not the provinces. He said the repatriation of Afghan refugees is also a federal matter, and Pakistan has the right to send back individuals without proper documentation.
The minister reiterated that Pakistan will defend its borders just as any sovereign nation would, stressing that the government’s focus should be on ensuring the safe and complete return of Afghan refugees currently residing in the country.
