Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has claimed that the country is prepared for a potential two-front war amid escalating tensions with Afghanistan. The warning came as clashes continued along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border following reported Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul that targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud. Afghanistan strongly condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty, further straining the already fragile ties between the two neighbours.
Asif suggested that India could exploit Pakistan’s internal and external challenges, referring to the country’s past border skirmishes with New Delhi. He asserted that Pakistan’s armed forces are on alert and ready to respond to any external aggression, despite the ongoing security crisis on its western front.
The situation has drawn India’s attention as well. New Delhi expressed support for Afghanistan, blaming Islamabad for sponsoring terrorism and destabilizing the region. India reiterated that Pakistan’s long-standing policy of harbouring militant groups continues to threaten regional peace. It also noted that Pakistan often blames its neighbours to divert attention from domestic instability.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has indicated that Pakistan is willing to engage in talks with Afghanistan under mutually respectful conditions. He said Pakistan had already agreed to a short-term ceasefire at Kabul’s request and that the responsibility now lies with Afghanistan to pursue peace through dialogue.
The rising tensions mark another chapter in Pakistan’s deteriorating security environment, as it struggles to manage both militant threats within and diplomatic rifts with its neighbours. With border clashes, internal unrest, and increasing regional isolation, Islamabad faces one of its most complex strategic challenges in recent years.
