Pakistan issues stark warning amid heightened border tension
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defence Minister, has warned that his country could resort to “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan if the ongoing diplomatic efforts fail to stabilise the border situation.
He made the remarks against the backdrop of several days of cross-border hostilities between Pakistani forces and Afghan-based militants that Islamabad says are using Afghan territory to launch attacksExpress+1
What’s behind the escalation?
The immediate catalyst for the minister’s warning is a surge in clashes along the 2,600-km frontier often called the Durand Line. Pakistani officials accuse Afghanistan’s ruling regime of allowing-or failing to prevent-militant groups, such as the Tehrik‑i‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from using its soil to strike across the border.
The Afghan side denies harbouring such groups and rejects claims of Pakistani air-strikes or incursions into Afghan territory. The stalemate has left ties between Islamabad and Kabul effectively suspended.
What Khawaja Asif said
- Asif stated that while there are currently no active large-scale hostilities, the environment remains “hostile” and attacks “can resume at any time.”
- He warned that Pakistan can no longer conduct relations with Afghanistan “as in the past” unless militant sanctuaries are addressed.
- He accused Kabul of becoming a “proxy” for India, alleging a collusion between Afghanistan, India and militant groups to destabilise Pakistan.Pakistan Today+1
Potential regional implications
If diplomatic efforts collapse, Pakistan’s warning raises the prospect of a full-blown bilateral conflict. Such a war would not only affect border communities but could destabilise wider South Asia, trigger refugee flows, threaten trade routes, and complicate relations with regional powers.
There is also the danger of escalation into a multi-front scenario: Pakistan has publicly referenced concerns about simultaneous pressure from India and Afghanistan.Indian Defence News
What happens next
Both sides reportedly agreed to a cease-fire and ongoing talks, but those are fragile. Pakistan has emphasised that any meaningful progress will require Afghanistan to take concrete action against militants operating from its territory.
If no such action is forthcoming, Islamabad says it views itself as having little choice but to respond — militarily, if necessary.
