Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says ties with Afghanistan suspended after border clashes; warns hostilities could resume anytime
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Monday that ties between Islamabad and Kabul are currently non-existent following an unprovoked attack on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border over the weekend, reports 24brussels.
Asif stated in an interview on Geo News that the situation has reached a stalemate. “You can say there are no active hostilities, but the environment is hostile. There are no ties, direct or indirect, as of today,” he remarked. He further noted that hostilities could resume “at any time,” emphasizing the need for vigilance.
Regarding the prospect of negotiations, Asif stated that discussions under threat are unacceptable. “If Afghanistan wants negotiations while threatening Pakistan at the same time, then they should act on their threats and we’ll negotiate after,” he asserted.
The Defence Minister defended Pakistan’s military response following the attack, claiming, “If you are attacked, you instantly have the right to react.” He denied targeting civilian areas, asserting that they focused on identifiable hideouts. Asif accused Afghanistan of harboring terrorist organizations, highlighting the presence of ISIS, Al Qaeda, and Taliban forces operating under Kabul’s influence.
Responding to inquiries about Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud’s presence in Afghanistan, Asif remarked, “When I went two-and-a-half, three years ago, they said they would relocate these people. He wasn’t on the moon; he was in Afghanistan.”
He emphasized the necessity for sincerity in diplomatic relations, suggesting that honesty could pave the way for conflict resolution. At least 23 Pakistani troops were killed and several others injured after an incursion from the Afghan side late on Saturday night, leading to intense border clashes.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that fighting erupted “on the night of Oct 11/12, 2025, after Afghan Taliban launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan.” The ISPR confirmed that 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred while defending the territorial integrity of the nation, with 29 additional soldiers wounded. They stated that over 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists were neutralized, noting that the number of injured was significantly higher.
The ISPR also detailed that 21 enemy positions on the Afghan side were briefly captured, and multiple terrorist training camps were rendered inoperative. They described extensive infrastructural damage to Taliban posts and operational facilities along the border.
In response, Afghanistan characterized the attack as a “retaliatory” move, alleging prior airstrikes from Pakistan, which Islamabad has not confirmed. The Pakistani government insists that Kabul must cease its support for TTP on its territory.
Furthermore, the ISPR stated, “The armed forces of Pakistan remain ever ready to protect the territorial integrity, life and property of the people of Pakistan. Our resolve to defend Pakistan’s territorial integrity and to defeat those who threaten our security is unwavering.”
