Pakistan will not hesitate to carry out further air strikes inside Afghanistan unless Kabul guarantees peace, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday, accusing India and Afghanistan of working in tandem against Pakistan through a proxy war driven by terrorists.

In an interview with France 24, Asif said terrorist violence in Pakistan was the result of Indian-backed terrorism enabled by Kabul’s complicity, asserting that “almost all franchises of terrorism” were present because of the Afghan government’s failure to act.

He said Pakistan retained the option of cross-border action and would exercise it if necessary. “We won’t hesitate. If someone in Kabul can underwrite peace, there will be no hostilities, but they continue to patronise and become co-conspirators,” he said, adding that Afghan authorities could not deny responsibility for terrorists operating from their soil.

Referring to last year’s strikes inside Afghanistan, Asif said the option remained firmly on the table. He accused Delhi of waging a proxy war following defeat during a four-day conflict in May, when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) repelled Indian attempts to violate its territory.

Asif said India, Kabul and terrorist outfits were “on the same page” in targeting Pakistan, though India would continue to deny the allegation despite maintaining close relations with Afghan authorities. He stressed that war with India remained “a possibility” under prevailing conditions.

The defence minister said Islamabad had made multiple diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue, including engagements in Istanbul, Doha and Kabul, but talks failed to produce results. According to Asif, Afghan officials acknowledged that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) elements were operating from their territory.

He said that Kabul indirectly admitted that they lacked control over the terrorist outfits. “We told them, then let us deal with them,” he said, adding that Pakistan had urged Kabul to allow action against terrorist groups if it could not rein them in itself.

Asif listed several organisations that he said were active from Afghan soil, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, TTP, Islamic State and Da’esh, alongside smaller factions. He accused Kabul of providing safe havens to these groups.

The remarks followed a deadly suicide bombing at the Imambargah Khadijatul Kubra in Islamabad, which killed 36 worshippers and injured around 169 others. Subsequent raids in Nowshera and Peshawar led to the arrest of four facilitators.

Authorities said the Daesh-linked Afghan mastermind was also captured. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the network had been trained in Afghanistan.

Gaza situation

Turning to the Middle East, Asif said Pakistan was prepared to contribute to an international stabilisation force in Gaza, provided acceptable terms of reference were established. He highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing role in United Nations peacekeeping missions, describing participation as a potential opportunity to advance a two-state solution.

“Gaza and Palestine are causes close to our hearts,” he said, noting Pakistan’s consistent support for the Palestinians at global forums. He added that involvement in a peace force could help move closer to a viable two-state outcome.

On relations with Israel, Asif ruled out any prospect of normalisation unless Palestinians were granted the right of self-determination in their own homeland under a two-state framework, despite several Muslim countries establishing ties with Tel Aviv.

The minister also addressed Pakistan’s internal political dynamics, describing the current system as a “hybrid arrangement” in which national institutions, including the military, work alongside the elected government.

He rejected claims of military rule, insisting the armed forces were supporting civilian leadership during a period marked by terrorism threats and economic strain. “There is absolutely no military rule. My boss is the prime minister,” Asif said.

He acknowledged the historical role of the establishment, while stressing that present challenges required institutional cooperation. Asif concluded by saying that Pakistan would continue to confront the proxy war while remaining open to peace, warning that continued inaction from Kabul would leave Islamabad with little choice but to respond decisively.

Pakistan has repeatedly warned an Afghanistan-India nexus behind militant violence, pointing to increased attacks originating from across the border. Recent United Nations reporting has also cited a rise in TTP operations launched from Afghan territory, reinforcing Islamabad’s long-standing complaints about terrorist sanctuaries.

(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)