Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has announced the severing of all ties with Afghanistan, ordering all Afghan citizens residing in Pakistan to return to their homeland. Asif accused India of instigating Pak-Afghan tensions, alleging that Kabul's rulers are now "conspiring against Pakistan from India's lap," despite having previously sought refuge in Pakistan, while these statements followed the expiration of a 48-hour ceasefire, which has reportedly been extended due to scheduled talks between representatives from both sides in Qatar to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Accusations Against India
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Khawaja Asif stated, "No more protest letters or appeals for peace. No delegation will go to Kabul. Wherever the source of terrorism is, it will have to pay a heavy price. " He claimed that Kabul has become a pawn of India, conspiring with India and the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistan. Asif firmly declared that Pakistan can no longer maintain the same relationship with Afghanistan as before.
Order for Afghan Citizens to Leave
This controversial announcement comes just days after a six-day visit by Taliban's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, a visit that reportedly agitated Pakistan. Asif urged, "All Afghan citizens residing on Pakistani soil should return to their homeland. They now have their own government in Kabul. " He emphasized that Pakistan's land and resources are for its 250 million people, while asif asserted that Pakistan is ready and capable of defending itself against any further aggression from Kabul, lamenting the lack of a positive response despite five years of Pakistani efforts and sacrifices, including 836 protest letters.
Escalating Pak-Afghan Tensions
Meanwhile, Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes inside Afghanistan late Friday, killing at least eight people and breaking the two-day border calm, while the Afghanistan Cricket Board reported that three players participating in a local tournament were among those killed in the strikes, further escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries.
