By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Pakistan Defence Minister Asif on Friday said it was possible that India might take some “vile action” along the border, though he did not present any proof to back the claim in an interview with Samaa TV.
Pakistan starts ‘two-front war’ propaganda to target India after border tensions with Afghanistan, media reported
He referred to a past “encounter” with India, likely the clashes that followed India’s Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“The situation is not good,” he admitted, pointing to Pakistan’s worsening security conditions and strained ties with Afghanistan.
Asif said there was already a plan in place when asked if he or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had held any meetings about a potential conflict with both India and Afghanistan.
“There is a strategy. We are not discussing it publicly right now, but Pakistan is ready for any situation,” he said, again repeating that India might try to carry out military action.
His comments came as relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan worsen after Islamabad reportedly launched airstrikes in Kabul targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Noor Wali Mehsud.
The strikes were condemned by the Afghan government as a breach of its sovereignty.
He responded to the rising border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan post a series of clashes and airstrikes in the recent days.
India stated its commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said “We are closely monitoring the situation.”
“Three things are clear one that Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. Two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. And three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories,” he said.
“India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” the MEA spokesperson said.
Jaiswal apprised that the upgrade of India’s Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy of India will take place in the next few days.
“Presently, we have a technical mission in Kabul. The transition from this technical mission to the embassy will happen in the next few days,” he said.
India’s Technical Mission has been operational in Kabul since June 2022, providing limited diplomatic and humanitarian engagement after the closure of the Indian Embassy in August 2021, after the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces from Afghanistan
