Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has issued a stark warning that India could “play dirty” along the border, asserting that Islamabad is prepared for a “two-front war” as tensions with Afghanistan intensify.
Speaking to Samaa TV, Asif responded to a question suggesting that India might commit a “vile act” along the border during Pakistan’s security crisis.
“Absolutely, you cannot rule it out. Absolutely, there is a possibility of this,” he said, without offering evidence to support his claim.
The minister recalled a previous “encounter” with India, apparently referring to the conflict following India’s Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He stressed that Pakistani troops had not been moved from the Afghan border at the time.
“The situation is not very good,” Asif added, pointing to Pakistan’s deteriorating security environment and its fraught relationship with Afghanistan.
Pakistan Says It Has Strategy for ‘Two-Front War’
When asked if he or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had chaired any meeting on a potential two-front conflict with India and Afghanistan, Asif claimed the government had prepared a strategy.
“There is a strategy for this. Publicly, we are not discussing it at this time, but we are prepared for any eventuality. We are prepared for that. There is absolutely no doubt about it,” he stated.
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His comments follow escalating border tensions with Afghanistan after Islamabad reportedly carried out airstrikes in Kabul, targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud — an operation strongly condemned by Kabul as a violation of its sovereignty.
India Backs Afghanistan Amid Border Clashes
Amid the clashes, India strongly backed Afghanistan, accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and blaming its neighbours for internal failures.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said India is closely monitoring the situation.
“India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” Jaiswal told reporters.
“Three things are clear — one, Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. Two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its internal failures. Three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories.”
The clashes at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border erupted during a visit to India by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who assured New Delhi that Afghan soil would not be used against foreign countries.
Shehbaz Sharif Urges Talks with Kabul
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday signaled that Islamabad was willing to hold talks with Afghanistan but under “legitimate and mutually respectful conditions.”
Sharif added that Pakistan agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire at Kabul’s request and that “the ball is now in Kabul’s court” to decide the next steps toward peaceful resolution.
“We are ready to resolve the issue at the dialogue table,” he said.
