Pakistan sought written assurance from Afghan Taliban, says Defence Minister
Key takeaways
- Speaking to the media outside Parliament House in Islamabad, the defence minister said that if attacks are launched from Afghanistan, Pakistan will respond accordingly.
- Khawaja Asif alleged that Afghan Taliban were “playing into the hands of India” and claimed that directives to the Afghan administration were influenced from New Delhi.
- He added that Pakistan had repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to provide a written assurance that Afghan soil would not be used against Pakistan.
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Add ARY News on Google AAResize ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan has the right to respond to attacks originating from Afghan territory, adding that any locations used for aggression would be targeted in retaliation, ARY News reported.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House in Islamabad, the defence minister said that if attacks are launched from Afghanistan, Pakistan will respond accordingly. He maintained that militants’ hideouts across the border would not be spared if used against Pakistan.
Khawaja Asif alleged that Afghan Taliban were “playing into the hands of India” and claimed that directives to the Afghan administration were influenced from New Delhi. He further said that Kabul would not take any firm stance without approval from India.