Pakistani Defense Minister addresses Taliban spokesman’s statement.
In a statement on his official account on the X social network, Khawaja Muhammad Asif wrote: Regarding the biased and misleading statements of the spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, it must be firmly stated that there is complete consensus among all Pakistanis, including the political and military leadership of the country, on Pakistan’s security policies and its comprehensive approach towards Afghanistan.
He said: Ironically, it is the Taliban that suffers from deep internal divisions and is responsible for the continuous oppression of ethnicities, women, children and minorities in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani Defense Minister stated: The people of Pakistan, especially the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (a province bordering Afghanistan), are fully aware of the support of foreign-sponsored and directed terrorism from Afghanistan and have no illusions about its intentions or behavior.
He continued: Even after four years in power, the Taliban has failed to fulfill the promises made to the international community and is now trying to hide its lack of cohesion, stability, and governance capacity through rhetoric and by acting as a representative of foreign elements.
Khawaja Asif emphasized: “On the contrary, Pakistan’s policy to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism and its deviant ideology remains unified, unwavering, and rooted in national interests as well as in the pursuit of regional peace and stability.”
According to IRNA, as tensions rise between Kabul and Islamabad, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the caretaker Afghan government, has previously stated that there are differences in Pakistan’s security policies.