Khawaja Asif calls for written Afghan assurance backed by friendly nations

Defence czar says many judges step down to secure pensions, benefits after completing their service terms

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that cross-border attacks originating from Afghanistan continue to undermine Pakistan’s security, suggesting that a written pledge from the Afghan Taliban regime — backed by guarantees from friendly countries — could help establish a path toward stability.

Speaking on the Express News programme Center Stage on Saturday, he highlighted contradictions in the Taliban regime’s statements, noting that while they claim Afghan territory has never been used against Pakistan, “evidence suggests otherwise.”

Asif said Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed a clear position to Kabul: terrorism must not emanate from Afghan territory, calling for a formal undertaking from the Taliban administration. “If terrorism is not occurring from your territory, then give a guarantee that it will never occur. This is only fair — provide assurance that it has never happened before and will not happen in the future,” he added.

Read: Pakistan tells Afghanistan: Act against TTP or no trade

He suggested that a written pledge, backed by friendly states such as Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, China and Qatar acting as guarantors, could help establish a path toward stability. “I am saying this only to find a solution,” he added.

The defence minister said both recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan were linked to Afghanistan. He stated that those killed in the Wana attack were all Afghan nationals, with “not a single person of Pakistani origin among them,” and added that the attack in Islamabad also traced back to Afghan territory.

Arguing that the Taliban government has failed to deliver improvements for Afghan citizens despite being in power for three years, Asif said Afghanistan has become a “safe haven” where militants from around the world operate “under the umbrella of Kandahar.” These groups, he said, shift their targets “according to convenience — sometimes towards Russia, at other times towards Pakistan.”

He described Afghanistan as a country in complete institutional collapse. “Afghans are unemployed. The country has no economy, no rule of law, no functioning judiciary, and no administrative structure. In every way, it is a bankrupt state,” he remarked.

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On a question related to trade, Asif said the Pakistan-Afghanistan border should operate like a formal international frontier. He argued that given repeated cross-border attacks, it should no longer function in the informal manner it has for decades.

“They have attacked our existence not once, but multiple times,” he said, adding that regulating movement under established border protocols would also curb smuggling, including the illicit flow of dollars.

The defence minister confirmed that the tenures of the army chief and the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) will begin simultaneously on November 27, 2025, under a new notification. He defended the CDF position by comparing it with similar structures in Britain and the United States, saying both the current army chief and CDF are “worthy” and have demonstrated their capabilities in war.

He rejected claims that excessive authority has been concentrated in any single military office, adding that future appointments of army chiefs will be processed through the Ministry of Defence, which remains answerable to Parliament and the prime minister.

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Asif claimed many judges step down to secure pensions and benefits after completing service terms. He urged those resigning on principle to state their reasons publicly rather than waiting to receive “lifelong privileges.”

He insisted the government has not encroached on judicial powers, denied that any authority has shifted to the executive, and said the procedures for appointing and transferring judges remain unchanged.