ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in an interview with Geo News, discussed the growing ties between Afghanistan and India, stating that the Pakistani military is fully prepared to respond to both domestic and foreign threats. He noted that the military’s capabilities have been demonstrated since the May 2025 conflict. Pakistan conducted its first airstrike on Kabul and Paktika after the Taliban’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India. Khawaja Asif expressed that concerns and distrust from Islamabad regarding the Kabul government and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have increased due to their close ties with India. He highlighted that the activities of these groups, particularly through extortion and illegal revenue generation, pose a serious threat to security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Defense Minister criticized the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that allowing such activities by the TTP is “negligence towards national security,” complicating the security situation. Asif emphasized that confidence in the Pakistani military has grown since the May 2025 conflict, leading to a rapid increase in requests for arms purchases from the country. He remarked, “If this trend continues, Pakistan may no longer need assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the coming six months.” He also claimed that during last year’s conflict with India, officials in New Delhi sought support from the U.S. and China but that Pakistan responded firmly, warning: “If India engages in aggressive actions again, we will respond in kind.” The Defense Minister concluded that India’s confidence has weakened since the May 2025 conflict, and Pakistan’s military capabilities are now recognized globally.
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