Shafaqna Pakistan: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that support from the Afghan Taliban government for banned militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan remains unchanged, cautioning against trusting what he described as “mixed signals” from the interim authorities regarding efforts to stop cross-border terrorism.
Speaking in an interview with a private television channel, he referred to reports suggesting that the Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had issued warnings to the TTP to halt attacks in Pakistan. However, he said such claims were only circulating in the media and that there had been no practical change on the ground.
Khawaja Asif further urged the Taliban leadership to end any support for TTP militants “once and for all,” adding that any real change in policy should be clearly stated and confirmed directly from authoritative sources rather than through unofficial reports.
Asif also referred to contradictory statements of the Afghan Taliban regime, saying “It will be very dangerous to trust the mixed signals” being sent by them regarding terrorism. “There is absolutely nothing on ground,” the defence minister stated.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghan Taliban positions in Kabul in February this year. The operation followed renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan.
According to the latest update by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on April 5, 796 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed while more than 1,043 had been injured during the operation. Despite many rounds of talks, most recently those facilitated by China in Urumqi, Islamabad and Kabul have failed to reach an agreement to resolve the conflict.
The defence minister, during his interview, also responded to remarks by the Indian army chief, saying that New Delhi was still dealing with the consequences of its defeat in Marka-e-Haq last year in May, warning against any potential military gamble in the future.
“India is still bearing the humiliation of its failure in the recent war,” Asif had said, responding to the Indian army chief stating that Operation Sindoor remains active despite a temporary cessation of hostilities. The army chief reportedly also said that the Indian armed forces are ready for a possible ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’ if required.
Asif stated that Islamabad was prepared to counter any future aggression, saying that India was using Afghanistan as a means to wage a proxy war against Pakistan.
Regarding the possibility of renewed tensions, the defence minister reiterated, “The Pakistan Army will inflict an even stronger defeat on India than it did last time.” “What happened to India last time perhaps did not satisfy them. If India wishes to try again, it may do so, and it will receive its answer,” he said.
The conflict began after the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
Source: Express Tribune
