India waging proxy war against Pakistan from Kabul: Khawaja Asif

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says India is backing the Afghan Taliban in Kabul and waging a low-intensity war from Afghan soil against Pakistan.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the Taliban have become a proxy of India, and that New Delhi is carrying out a low-intensity war against Pakistan from Afghan territory.

The defence minister said there is evidence of ties between New Delhi and the Afghan Taliban. He added that when a Taliban minister was in India, clashes occurred in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan responded strongly to the Taliban’s aggression, and several of our soldiers were martyred in clashes with the Afghan Taliban.

Speaking about conflict with India during the interview, the defence minister said that a few months ago India suffered defeat in a war; seven of India’s aircraft were shot down — a point he claimed the US president has mentioned several times.

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He warned that if Afghan soil is used for terrorism against Pakistan, Islamabad will not remain silent. Pakistan has always desired peace, but if Kabul chooses the path of confrontation, Pakistan has the full capability to respond.

He earlier warned the Taliban regime that if the Taliban have handed their reins to Delhi, the situation will be difficult; Pakistan will respond even if it must go deep into Afghanistan. He said Pakistan sincerely tried to keep peace and stability between the two countries, but if Kabul opts for confrontation, Pakistan will respond forcefully if Afghan territory is used against it.

The interview reiterates Islamabad’s warning that it will not tolerate use of Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan and claims links between India and elements of the Afghan Taliban — claims that have been publicly made before and are politically sensitive in the region.