Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Islamabad would not hesitate to carry out air operations inside Afghanistan if required, alleging that recent attacks in Pakistan are the result of a proxy conflict involving the Afghan Taliban government and India.
In an interview with a French broadcasting outlet, Asif claimed that militant groups operating from Afghan soil were involved in cross-border attacks against Pakistan. He alleged that elements in Kabul and New Delhi were linked to armed groups targeting Pakistani territory.
According to the defence minister, banned outfits including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh are present in Afghanistan and continue to pose a threat to regional stability. He asserted that attacks inside Pakistan could not take place without the consent or patronage of the authorities in Kabul.
Asif further stated that the possibility of war with India still exists, warning that tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours remain high.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained in recent years over security concerns, while ties between Pakistan and India have also remained tense amid India's aggressive behaviour in the region.
