Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, has warned the Taliban in Afghanistan that if they cannot control anti-Pakistan militants on their soil, Pakistan will take action and strike their hideouts.
In an interview with Voice of America, Khawaja Asif disclosed that during his late-February visit to Afghanistan, he reminded Taliban leaders of their cross-border security commitments, which forbid terrorists from using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks on Pakistan, adding that Islamabad would resort to measures to hit the terrorists’ sanctuaries on Afghan soil if necessary.
Khawaja Asif claimed that the Taliban leadership “responded very well” to the recent warning, and he believes that they are trying to distance themselves from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after receiving support from the group to fight the US-led coalition troops.
He said Pakistan is facing an economic crisis, and the military, which receives the largest chunk of the annual federal budget, is looking to curtail its expenses.
Despite facing political instability, economic meltdown, and rising terrorism, he claimed that Pakistan’s defense is stable, and he has “absolutely no doubt” about it.
Asif’s warning to the Taliban comes at a time when Pakistan is facing increasing cross-border attacks from militants operating in Afghanistan, and the government is under immense pressure to control the situation.
