ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that the Afghan Taliban regime’s support for the banned militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains intact, warning against believing in the interim rulers’ “mixed signals” regarding the halting of cross-border terrorism.
He made the remarks during an interview with a private news channel. Referring to a report claiming that the Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had warned the TTP to stop attacks in Pakistan, Asif said “It is only in the media,” and that “practically there has been no change in the situation on ground.”
Further, Asif called on the Taliban’s top leadership to stop supporting the TTP militants “once and for all,” adding, “It should come from the horse’s mouth” regarding the reported withdrawal of Taliban support to the TTP.
Asif also referred to contradictory statements of the Afghan Taliban regime, saying “It will be very dangerous to trust the mixed signals” being sent by them regarding terrorism. “There is absolutely nothing on ground,” the defence minister stated.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghan Taliban positions in Kabul in February this year. The operation followed renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan.
According to the latest update by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on April 5, 796 Afghan Taliban operatives had been killed while more than 1,043 had been injured during the operation. Despite many rounds of talks, most recently those facilitated by China in Urumqi, Islamabad and Kabul have failed to reach an agreement to resolve the conflict.
The defence minister, during his interview, also responded to remarks by the Indian army chief, saying that New Delhi was still dealing with the consequences of its defeat in Marka-e-Haq last year in May, warning against any potential military gamble in the future.
“India is still bearing the humiliation of its failure in the recent war,” Asif had said, responding to the Indian army chief stating that Operation Sindoor remains active despite a temporary cessation of hostilities. The army chief reportedly also said that the Indian armed forces are ready for a possible ‘Operation Sindoor 2.0’ if required.
Asif stated that Islamabad was prepared to counter any future aggression, saying that India was using Afghanistan as a means to wage a proxy war against Pakistan.
Regarding the possibility of renewed tensions, the defence minister reiterated, “The Pakistan Army will inflict an even stronger defeat on India than it did last time.” “What happened to India last time perhaps did not satisfy them. If India wishes to try again, it may do so, and it will receive its answer,” he said.
The conflict began after the April 22 Pahalgam attack and concluded with a ceasefire on May 10 following Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.
