Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that Pakistan will not hesitate to carry out air operations against terrorists present in Afghanistan and will take all necessary steps to safeguard national security.
In an interview with a French news agency, he alleged that, along with Delhi and Kabul, certain terrorist organizations are also involved in activities against Pakistan. He said that the banned TTP, ISIS, and other extremist groups are operating from Afghan soil, and attacks against Pakistan cannot take place without the consent or patronage of the Afghan authorities.
Khawaja Asif accused India of waging a proxy war against Pakistan, claiming that New Delhi, Kabul, and extremist groups appear to be on the same page. He asserted that external elements are involved in destabilizing activities against Pakistan.
He stated that following the armed confrontation between India and Pakistan in May 2025, there has been no direct or indirect contact between the two countries, and diplomatic tensions remain in place.
The defense minister said that some friendly countries had attempted mediation to ease the rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but those efforts have not yielded any concrete results so far.
He further remarked that in the context of tensions with India, the threat of war has not been completely eliminated, and the situation remains sensitive.
According to Khawaja Asif, India suffered significant losses during the four-day clashes in May last year, and U.S. President Donald Trump has referred on multiple occasions to the number of aircraft involved.
He said that the conflict resulted in embarrassment for India at the global level, as it was confronting a country smaller in both territory and military size.
The Defence Minister maintained that the Pakistan Air Force thwarted every attempt to violate its airspace and effectively defended national sovereignty.
He added that Delhi maintains close ties with Kabul, while currently, there is no direct or indirect communication between Pakistan and India.
Responding to a question, Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan has no intention of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel and continues to support the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
It may be noted that a few days earlier, Khawaja Asif had stated that Pakistan would, sooner or later, have to conduct operations against terrorists in Afghanistan.
