Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday urged all Afghans living in Pakistan to return to their homeland, declaring that the country’s resources belong to its 250 million citizens and accusing Kabul of harbouring terrorists and acting as a “proxy” for India.
“All Afghans residing on Pakistani soil must return to their homeland; they now have their own government, their own caliphate in Kabul,” Asif said in a post on social media. “Our land and resources belong to 250 million Pakistanis.”
His remarks came amid rising tensions between the neighbours, following the expiration of a 48-hour ceasefire at 6 p.m. local time. Reports suggested, however, that the truce was extended, with officials from both sides expected to meet in Doha to seek a resolution. Taliban officials claimed Islamabad had carried out airstrikes in several districts of Paktika province, along the Durand Line, and said the truce had been “broken."
“Pakistan can no longer afford to maintain relations with Kabul as it did in the past,” Asif added, noting that Islamabad had exercised “patience for years” but received no positive response.
The minister disclosed that Pakistan had sent 836 protest notes and 13 demarches to the Afghan side over repeated cross-border terror incidents. “There will no longer be protest notes or appeals for peace; no delegations will go to Kabul,” he stated. “Wherever the source of terrorism lies, it will have to pay a heavy price.”
Asif accused the Taliban government of acting as a “proxy of India” and conspiring against Pakistan in collaboration with New Delhi and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
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“The rulers of Kabul, who are now sitting in India’s lap and conspiring against Pakistan, were once under our protection, hiding on our land,” he said.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s readiness to defend itself, Asif warned that any aggression from across the border would be met with a firm response. Earlier in the week, he said Pakistan was prepared to fulfil the Afghan Taliban’s “wish for war” if the group sought conflict.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s human and security toll since the Taliban takeover in 2021, citing 10,347 terror attacks that killed 3,844 people, including civilians and security personnel.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban government to prevent militants from using Afghan soil for attacks, but Kabul denies the allegations, insisting Afghan territory is not being used against any neighbour.
The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric, with Asif framing Pakistan’s stance as both defensive and nationalistic: “Self-respecting nations do not thrive on foreign land and resources.”
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