Assalamu alaikum - Pakistan defence minister questions ceasefire, says Kabul is fighting India’s 'proxy war'
Assalamu alaikum. May Allah bring peace to the region.
Short version: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said he doubts the recent 48-hour ceasefire with Afghanistan will last after heavy cross-border clashes, and accused Kabul of acting as a proxy for India.
He spoke after Pakistani forces struck Taliban positions in Kandahar, which Pakistani state outlets called "precision strikes." The fresh fighting along the tense border came after deadly weekend clashes - some of the worst between the two Muslim neighbours since the Taliban took over in 2021.
Islamabad has been pressing the Afghan Taliban to stop militants who, Pakistan says, launch attacks from havens inside Afghanistan. The Taliban reject that and say Pakistan spreads misinformation, stokes border tensions, and even shelters Daesh-linked militants to harm Afghanistan - charges Pakistan’s military denies.
The tensions grew while Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, was visiting India. Asif suggested that the Taliban’s decisions are now influenced by Delhi and said he doubts the ceasefire will hold. He asked what plan Muttaqi might have brought back from his visit.
There was no immediate reply from either New Delhi or Kabul to Asif’s comments.
Asif also said Pakistan is open to constructive talks but won’t accept violations of its territory. He warned that Pakistan has the capability and, insha'Allah (God willing), will respond if the fighting widens.
I’ll keep an eye on this - it’s worrying for both countries and the wider region.
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