Tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan has increased once again. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday (October 28) accused the Taliban government of Afghanistan of playing into the hands of India and said that if Kabul tried to attack Islamabad, Pakistan would respond with 50 times more force.

Speaking in a Geo News programme, Asif said, “The people running the government in Kabul are dancing like puppets on the tunes of Delhi. India is plotting against Pakistan by making Afghanistan a pawn.” He said that the recent talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Türkiye failed several times due to the withdrawal of the Afghan side. Asif said, “Whenever there was a situation of agreement, Kabul intervened and withdrew it,” Asif said.

Khwaja Asif accused India

Asif alleged that India wants the low intensity war against Pakistan to continue and Afghanistan remains its means. He said, “After the defeat on its western border, India has now adopted the strategy of destabilizing Pakistan through Kabul.” According to sources, the talks mediated by Türkiye and Qatar ended without any concrete result. Pakistan’s main demand was that Afghanistan should take concrete action against terrorist organizations like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating in its territory.

What did Pakistan’s Information Minister say?

On this issue, Pakistan’s Information Minister Atta Ullah Tarar also said that in the Istanbul talks, the Afghan side kept deviating from the core issue again and again and kept avoiding taking responsibility. In the last few weeks, many soldiers and civilians have died in border skirmishes, creating a war-like situation between the two countries. Although a temporary ceasefire was reached in Doha brokered by Qatar on 19 October, it could not end the tension permanently.

Khawaja Asif said in a stern tone, “Even if Afghanistan raises its eyes towards Islamabad, we will gouge out its eyes. Afghanistan should understand that Pakistan will not compromise its security at any cost.”

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Saudi Arabia on Sunday (October 19) welcomed the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan following the recent border clashes. Besides, he also appreciated the mediation of Qatar and Türkiye, who helped in the talks held in Doha.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said that this agreement will work to immediately implement the ceasefire and create the necessary mechanism to maintain long-term peace between the two countries. “The Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomes that Pakistan and Afghanistan signed an immediate ceasefire during the talks in Doha and agreed to establish mechanisms to ensure lasting peace and stability,” the statement said.

Saudi Arabia supported

Saudi Arabia supported all efforts to promote peace and security and reiterated its promise to ensure stability and prosperity for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. “The state supports all efforts that bring peace and stability and is committed to ensuring security, stability and prosperity for the people of both countries,” the statement said, adding that the Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the agreement will reduce tensions along the shared border of the two countries. The statement further said, “We hope that this step will help in ending the tension on the border.”

What did Qatar say?

Earlier, Qatar had told that Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and further meetings will be held to maintain it. The Doha talks mediated by Qatar and Türkiye are being considered a major diplomatic success in this matter. A day before the talks, Pakistan had violated the ceasefire in Afghanistan’s south-eastern province of Paktika, killing 17 people, including three Afghan cricket players. Many civilians were harmed in the air strikes.

What did Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar say?

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also welcomed the ceasefire and said that the next meeting will be held in Türkiye, in which both sides will work on monitoring and stabilization of the ceasefire.

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