Summary Asif urged the Taliban leadership to publicly and unequivocally end its backing of the outlawed group
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned against relying on Afghan Taliban regime’s ‘mixed signals’ regarding action against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), insisting that there has been no tangible change in support for militant groups operating against Pakistan.
Asif responded to reports suggesting that Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had instructed the TTP to cease attacks inside Pakistan.
The minister said such reports had yet to translate into any practical developments on the ground, maintaining that support for TTP militants remained unchanged. He urged the Taliban leadership to publicly and unequivocally end its backing of the outlawed group.
Commenting on contradictory messages from Kabul, Asif warned that trusting these signals could be dangerous, adding that Pakistan had not witnessed any meaningful action against terrorist elements operating from Afghan territory.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, months after a ceasefire agreed in October 2025 following border clashes between the two countries. Despite several rounds of talks, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to resolve their differences, with Pakistan repeatedly calling on the Afghan authorities to act against militant groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks.
Separately, Asif rejected recent remarks by India’s army chief, saying New Delhi was still grappling with the consequences of its setback during last year's conflict with Pakistan.
Responding to comments that Operation Sindoor remained active and could be expanded if necessary, the defence minister said Pakistan was fully prepared to counter any future military aggression.
He also accused India of using Afghanistan as a platform for a proxy conflict against Pakistan and warned that any renewed hostilities would be met with a strong response from Pakistan’s armed forces.
Referring to the previous confrontation, Asif said Pakistan had successfully defended itself and would respond decisively to any future threat.
