Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan was writing off the Afghan Taliban and had no further positive expectations from the group, amid consistently tense relations that show no sign of abating.
Earlier today, Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, claimed that Pakistan had carried out overnight strikes in the neighbouring country. In a post on social media platform X, he said that Pakistan had “bombed” Khost province and carried out air strikes in Kunar and Paktika provinces. The military spokesperson rejected the allegations.
Asked in an interview on News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ about whether Pakistan was denying carrying out any strikes or civilian casualties during the alleged strikes, the defence minister replied: “Both things are non-existent at this time. We do react and retaliate, but [targeting] civilians is not at all our manner.
We have a disciplined force that has traditions and a code of conduct; we are not a ragtag group like the Taliban, who neither have a code of conduct nor religion nor traditions.”
Asif questioned what the Taliban had managed to achieve in 20 years, apart from retaking Kabul, and admitted that people would mock him for his social media post at the time welcoming them.
“But you know, hope should always be present unless all limits are crossed. But today, we are completely writing them off and we have no good hope from them.”
A question about the Taliban’s stated intent to retaliate as per Islam law irked the defence minister, who asked which Islamic law do the Afghan Taliban follow that dictates them to live in their neighbour’s home for decades and then spill blood.
“Is this some self-invented Shariah of their own? This is not the Shariah of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).”
Asked when Pakistan would retaliate, Asif said Pakistan’s well-wishers, such as Turkey, Iran, and Qatar, wanted regional peace since everyone would benefit from it, and opportunities for employment would open up for all, including the Afghan people.
“They are the enemies of their own Afghan people; they were already the enemies of Pakistan and have now become defined enemies.”
