ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday issued a stern warning following what he described as unprovoked firing by Afghan forces on multiple locations along the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, declaring that Pakistan’s “patience has reached its limit” and that the situation could escalate into “open war.”
Reacting strongly on social media, Asif criticized the Afghan Taliban leadership and asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces were fully prepared to respond. “Our army has not come from any other continent. We are your neighbours and know your limits,” he wrote, signaling a hardened stance amid rising cross-border tensions.
The defence minister said Pakistan’s security forces were delivering a “crushing response” to what he termed Indian-backed Taliban aggression. He added that the enemy would ultimately face defeat.
Asif also accused the Taliban government of aligning itself with India following NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. He alleged that Afghanistan had been turned into an “Indian colony” and claimed that militant elements from various parts of the world were being sheltered and exported to destabilize Pakistan.
Emphasizing Islamabad’s efforts to preserve stability, Asif said Pakistan had sought to maintain normal relations but accused the Taliban regime of acting as a proxy against Pakistani interests.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, raising concerns about further escalation between the two neighboring countries.