Khawaja Asif says armed forces giving ‘decisive response’ to Afghan aggression

Defense minister Khawaja Asif, in a statement, said Pakistan had expected peace and stability in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces, but “developments since then have undermined regional security.” 

Furthermore, he accused the Taliban of turning Afghanistan into a base for militants and a “colony” of India. 

Moreover, he criticized the Taliban’s governance, saying Afghan citizens, especially women, have been denied basic rights.

In a statement on X, Asif said Pakistan pursued “comprehensive diplomacy” to normalize relations both directly and through friendly nations, but those efforts were unsuccessful. 

He also added that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades and sought peace but would not tolerate threats to its sovereignty. “Our patience has reached its limit,” he said, declaring that the situation had effectively become an open war.

The statement came after Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border in response to unprovoked cross-border attacks by Afghan Taliban forces. 

Meanwhile, Afghan authorities have condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty, with reports of civilian casualties in provinces including Nangarhar and Paktia.