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Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said it became clear on the first day that the authority to decide was not in Kabul’s hands. Speaking on Geo News’ program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath, he warned that when issues are not resolved in talks with the Afghan Taliban, the situation can quickly turn into open conflict.
Asif argued that while the Taliban claim control, Afghan politics remain fragmented, and promises made by one group cannot be fully trusted. He further accused the Taliban of engaging in a proxy war backed by India.
The minister said that negotiations often stalled after calls from Kabul, and several provisional agreements broke down because of outside interference. Although he expressed sympathy for the Afghan negotiating team’s hard work, Asif described the real control as a “puppet show” run from Delhi through other actors.
Officials also reported that two major infiltration attempts across the Pakistan-Afghan border were foiled and that 25 militants were killed — an outcome that kept security concerns at the center of the talks.
In hardline remarks, Asif said Pakistani children have been martyred since the Taliban came to power and warned that any threat toward Islamabad would be met with a strong response. He stressed that discussions with the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) are not part of current policy and vowed to keep provincial governments and parliament informed of developments.
Asif also urged that those who supported the Taliban in the past should face legal action wherever they are. He closed by saying Pakistan would consider it fortunate if it could play a role in protecting Palestinians — a comment that connected regional security concerns with humanitarian considerations.
