Asif says tensions with Afghanistan may worsen ‘but that’s not our desire’

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Sialkot: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are moving towards further deterioration, emphasizing that Islamabad does not want any increase in tension with its neighbor.

Speaking exclusively to Geo News, the Minister said that relations with Afghanistan were never ideal, adding that terrorism was being exported to Pakistan from Afghan soil.

He said, “Pakistan wanted respect and dignity as well as good neighbors,” he called on Afghanistan to cooperate in dealing with cross -border terrorism.

In the backdrop of the growing terrorist attacks in Pakistan, Islamabad and Kabul are witnessing reluctance to work against terrorist groups in the interim government.

In 2021, especially in the provinces of KP and Balochistan, the country has witnessed the increase in cross -border terrorist incidents since the Taliban’s rulers returned to Afghanistan.

The two countries have shared an unsafe border that extends about 2,500 km with several crossing points, which is important as an important element of regional trade and an important factor of relations between the people on both sides of the fence.

However, the issue of terrorism has become an important issue for Pakistan, which has called on Afghanistan to prevent its territory from attacking groups like TTP inside the previous area.

Islamabad’s reservations have also been confirmed by a report submitted by the UN Security Council (UNSC) by an analytical cooperation and sanctions monitoring team, which has revealed a nexus between Kabul and the TTP, which has previously provided logistics, operational, and later.

During today’s interview, Asif added that people living in the areas where terrorists receive asylum are generally aware of their presence.

He remarked, “If someone outside enters a locality, I will definitely know within three days,” he said, giving remarks, in such cases, this silence by the locals is equivalent to partial consent.

Asif stressed that patriotic Pakistanis would not be allowed to do any harm.

Pakistan has hosted Afghans for more than four decades since the Taliban occupation in 2021. Some refugees were born and raised in Pakistan. Others are still waiting for the third country migration.

According to media reports, after the crackdown on non -documentary Afghans and legal status, more than 554,000 Afghans have been returned to April 2025, under the plan for Pakistan’s illegal foreign repatriation plan.

According to security sources, the masterminds and facilitators of terror are based in Afghanistan and they are being supported by India.

Talking about India, the Defense Minister said New Delhi’s recent statements indicated that he could try to misunderstand.

He said that India was trying to restore its lost pride after being humiliated and warned that Pakistan would respond more loudly. “The misunderstanding or deception of India has already been abolished,” he added.

‘Seal the border’

One day ago, Director General (DG) Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan had kept Afghanistan through several channels, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates before the Doha agreement.

“Still, the place given to non -state actors in Afghanistan is not only against the interests of Pakistan but also for Afghanistan itself,” he said.

He called on the Afghan government to “seal the border” and prevent its area from being used to attack Pakistan.

The DGISPR said that India was using Afghan soil as a base for operations against Pakistan, which is evidence of Indian proxies demonstrating terrorist attacks from the Afghan territory.

He added that after the US withdrawal, a large reservoir of US weapons was left behind, most of which ended in the hands of terrorist groups.

“Afghanistan has to make sure that its land has not been used by non -state actors,” he said. Pakistan has provided solid evidence to Afghan authorities for such activities. “