Pakistan’s defence minister has said Islamabad does not trust the Afghan Taliban, citing their growing ties with India. He warned that Pakistan is prepared to confront both India and the Taliban if required.
Speaking to Geo News, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan was concerned about the Taliban’s expanding relationship with New Delhi and was ready to respond to any aggression along both its eastern and western borders.
Asked whether Pakistan has the capacity to fight on two fronts simultaneously, Asif said the country was fully prepared.
Relations between Pakistan, India and the Afghan Taliban have deteriorated in recent months. Pakistan fought a four-day conflict with India in May last year and, several months later, clashed with Taliban forces in October.
The remarks follow comments earlier this week by Pakistan army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who accused the Afghan Taliban of aligning themselves with the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As tensions with Pakistan have risen, the Taliban have expanded engagement with India. Over the past two months, several senior Taliban officials, including three cabinet ministers, have travelled to New Delhi. Taliban officials have said they hope India will help offset economic losses following a downturn in trade with Pakistan.
Asif also referred to last year’s conflict with India, saying Pakistani fighter jets were tested under real combat conditions during the fighting. He added that Pakistan has since received significant international orders for combat aircraft, describing the development as a sign of confidence in the country’s defence capabilities.
