Islamabad, November 2, 2025: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to taking decisive measures against cross-border terrorism, asserting that the protection of Pakistani citizens remains the government’s foremost priority.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the minister issued a strong response to recent remarks by the Afghan Taliban spokesperson, calling them “misleading and malicious.” He emphasized that Pakistan’s political and military leadership are united on all matters concerning national security, particularly its policy toward Afghanistan.
“There exists a broad national consensus on how to deal with terrorism emanating from across the border,” Asif stated.
He said the people of Pakistan, especially those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are well aware of the continued terrorist activities being carried out by Indian proxies operating under the protection of the Afghan Taliban.
Highlighting the internal challenges faced by Afghanistan, Asif said the Taliban regime, which lacks broad-based representation, is grappling with serious governance and internal divisions.
“Despite being in power for four years, the Afghan Taliban have failed to honor the commitments they made to the international community,” he said.
The minister also criticized the Taliban for “repeatedly violating basic human rights,” including denying women, children, and minorities access to education and freedom of expression.
Asif further accused the Taliban of using propaganda and external narratives to divert attention from their internal failures.
“The Afghan Taliban are acting as proxies for external elements, particularly India, to advance agendas that destabilize the region,” he asserted.
