Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that members of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are part of Afghanistan’s governing system, while its entire leadership is currently residing in Kabul under Taliban protection.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the minister said that the next round of dialogue on November 6 will address key concerns, adding that detailed outcomes of the talks will be shared afterwards.
“The entire TTP leadership is in Kabul, and the Afghan Taliban have given them refuge,” he stated. “We have conveyed to the Afghan authorities that militants must not cross the border to carry out attacks in Pakistan.”
Khawaja Asif asserted that if the Afghan Taliban failed to prevent cross-border attacks, “it means they are complicit.” He added that Pakistan expects other countries to support border-monitoring efforts.
The defence minister stressed that Pakistan can only open the border on humanitarian grounds, noting that Afghan officials have privately acknowledged the presence of TTP leaders on their soil.
“Unfortunately, these people once lived as our guests, and today they are attacking us,” he said, referring to recent militant assaults originating from Afghanistan.
Khawaja Asif praised Qatar and Türkiye for facilitating dialogue, calling them trusted partners with strong ties to Pakistan. He expressed confidence that Pakistan would “soon overcome this challenge linked to Afghanistan.”
He further claimed that India attempted to exploit Afghan-based proxies to destabilize Pakistan, seeking to trigger attacks in Islamabad. “If India tries anything now, we will respond strongly,” he warned.
The minister also distanced the government from comments made by PML-N leader Daniyal Chaudhry regarding a proposed Gaza peace force, saying, “Astaghfirullah — I do not support such remarks.”
