Khawaja Asif accuses Kabul of dancing to India’s tune, threatens 50x stronger response

Pakistan: Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has launched a sharp attack on Kabul and alleged that the Afghan government is working as a tool in the hands of Delhi. He warned that if any attack were made on Islamabad, the response would be “fifty times” heavier. Asif made this comment in Geo News' primetime show, where he said that the Afghan leadership appeared to be trapped in India's strategy.

Why did the talks fail miserably?

Asif said that the talks held in Türkiye failed due to several retreats and reversals. His argument was that whenever the talks came close to an agreement, there was intervention from Kabul and the agreement was withdrawn. Pakistan's main demand was that concrete, verifiable action be taken against groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) based on Afghan soil—but this point always remained a point of contention.

What is Pakistan saying about the Afghan delegation?

Khawaja Asif praised the Afghan delegation's tough policies but also alleged that their decision-making power was limited and real help did not come from the power centers in Kabul. He said that those people pull from behind and influence the talks. Asif also said that India is using Afghanistan to wage a “low-intensity war” against Pakistan.

What answer is Kabul giving?

The Afghan side has repeatedly denied that its territory is being used against Pakistan. According to media reports, Afghan representatives kept seeking permission from Kabul before taking decisions on several proposals, due to which the talks slowed down. Kabul said that its role in the talks was constructive and accusations are useless.

What is the situation on the border, and what can happen next?

Both sides acknowledged that the October 19 ceasefire is still in force, but tension remains on the border. Dozens of people were killed in airstrikes and border clashes during this month. Pakistan has warned that it will take every alternative step to protect its citizens. Turkey and Qatar are indicating they will continue mediation, but at present the possibility of any concrete result seems bleak.

The special thing is that regional diplomacy is going through a disappointing phase: both the countries are not able to cross the trust gap even while citing peace. In such a situation, without an accurate and transparent verification mechanism, there seems to be little hope for any long-term agreement.