Khawaja Asif Accuses Afghanistan's Taliban Of Acting As ‘India's Proxy’ Amid Border Clashes

Last Updated:February 27, 2026, 08:04 IST

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared an “open war” on the Taliban government, saying that Islamabad's patience has reached its limit.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Clashes: Amid escalating border tensions, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused Afghanistan’s Taliban of acting as a “proxy of India" and declared that it was now “open war" between the two sides.

In a post on X, the Pakistani Minister said that after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, it had been expected that the Taliban would ensure peace and stability. However, he alleged that Taliban “turned Afghanistan into a colony of India," and gathered militants and began “exporting terrorism."

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He further said that the Taliban administration deprived citizens of basic human rights and “snatching away the rights that Islam grants to women."

“Taliban gathered all the terrorists of the world in Afghanistan and began exporting terrorism. They deprived their own people of basic human rights. They snatched away the rights that Islam grants to women," Asif said in a post on X.

Asif claimed that Pakistan had made “every effort" to normalise ties through diplomacy and engagement via friendly countries, but claimed attempts were now being made to target Pakistan with aggression.

“Pakistan made every effort to keep the situation normal through direct means and through friendly countries. It engaged in full-fledged diplomacy. But the Taliban became a proxy for India. Today, when attempts are being made to target Pakistan with aggression, Alhamdulillah, our forces are giving a decisive response at this time," he added.

Asif further declared an “open war" on the Taliban government, saying that Islamabad’s patience has reached its limit.

“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you. Now it will be ‘Dama Dam Mast Qalandar.’ Pakistan’s army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbors; we know your ins and outs. Allahu Akbar," he added.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the military action as a “befitting response," saying Pakistan’s armed forces acted after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani border troops.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Escalating Tensions

The declaration came amid intensifying hostilities that have pushed relations between Islamabad and Kabul to one of their lowest points in recent years.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, after a fresh round of clashes between the two sides on Friday. Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the Pakistani strikes but said there were no casualties.

Afghan authorities said that their forces launched cross-border attacks late Thursday in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory. Afghan officials claimed the operations targeted Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line, the disputed border separating the two countries.

Mujahid said that Afghan forces had launched “wide-ranging retaliatory operations" against Pakistani military positions in the directions of Kandahar and Helmand. The Ministry of Defence of Afghanistan claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several posts captured during retaliatory operations along the Durand Line. Pakistan has not confirmed those figures.

Border crossings have largely remained shut since clashes in October reportedly killed more than 70 people on both sides. Islamabad has long accused the Taliban administration of failing to curb militant groups operating from Afghan soil — a charge Kabul denies.

(With inputs from agencies)

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