Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the country will take all necessary measures to ensure its security if cross-border infiltration continues from Afghanistan.

In an interview with Independent Urdu, Khawaja Asif stated that while Pakistan remains committed to peaceful dialogue, it will not hesitate to defend itself if hostile activities persist. “If the talks are not successful and infiltration continues, the military option will be the last resort,” he said.

Demand for halt to cross-border attacks

The defense minister stressed that Pakistan’s only demand is that infiltration from Afghan soil must stop. He said the Afghan Taliban have so far refused to provide a written guarantee that attacks on Pakistani territory will cease.

“Our message is clear — the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan must come to an end,” he emphasized. Khawaja Asif added that continued instability along the border not only threatens Pakistan’s security but also regional peace.

India’s influence on Kabul, regional tensions

Asif alleged that India holds significant influence over Kabul and does not want peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan authorities to succeed. He accused India of pursuing policies aimed at keeping Pakistan entangled in terrorism-related challenges.

“India’s growing influence in Afghanistan is concerning. It seeks to prevent the success of peace efforts and wants to keep Pakistan destabilized,” he remarked.

Despite regional complexities, Khawaja Asif said that progress in ongoing talks cannot be ruled out. “The possibility of progress in the talks cannot be ruled out under any circumstances,” he said, expressing cautious optimism about finding a peaceful solution to border tensions.