Pakistan delivering decisive response after Afghan aggression: defence minister

Khawaja Asif says Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to normalise ties failed despite comprehensive measures

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said peace had been expected in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO forces, but developments since then had undermined regional stability.

In a statement posted on X, Asif said, “After the withdrawal of NATO forces, it was expected that there would be peace in Afghanistan and the Taliban would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and regional stability.”

However, he stated that Afghanistan had instead become a hub for militant groups, asserting that “terrorists from around the world have been gathered there and militancy is being exported.”

He also criticised the Taliban’s internal governance, stating that Afghan citizens had been deprived of basic human rights. “Women have been deprived of rights that Islam itself grants them,” he said.

نیٹو کی افواج کے انخلاء کے بعد یہ توقع کی جاتی تھی کہ افغانستان میں امن ھو گا اور طالبان افغانُ عوام کے مفادات اور علاقہ میں امن پہ توجہ مرکوز کریںُ گے۔مگر طالبان نے افغانستان کو ھندوستان کی کالونی بنا دیا۔ ساری دنیا کے دھشت گردوں کا افغانستان میں اکٹھا کر لیا اور دھشت گردی کو…

— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) February 26, 2026

The defence minister said Pakistan had made consistent diplomatic efforts to maintain normal relations. “Pakistan made every effort, both directly and through friendly countries, to normalise the situation and pursued comprehensive diplomacy,” he said, adding that these efforts had failed to change the situation.

Referring to recent tensions, Asif said Pakistan was responding firmly. “Today, when Pakistan was targeted with aggression, our armed forces are delivering a decisive response,” he said, adding, “Our patience has reached its limit.”

He also highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing role in hosting Afghan refugees, saying the country had hosted millions of Afghans for decades and continued to provide livelihoods to many.

“Our forces are not from across the seas — we are your neighbours and fully capable of defending our country,” Asif said, adding that Pakistan remained committed to protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In an exclusive talk with Pakistan TV, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar confirmed Pakistan’s Air Force carried out precise airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, destroying Taliban posts, brigade headquarters, ammunition depots, and logistic… pic.twitter.com/J61ubB9n9C

— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) February 26, 2026

The remarks come amid Operation Ghazab Lil Haq launched by Pakistan in response to unprovoked attacks by Afghan Taliban forces along multiple points of the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the operation has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 133 Afghan insurgents, injuries to over 200, and the destruction and capture of multiple Taliban posts.

Significant targets, including ammunition depots, battalion headquarters, sector headquarters, tanks, artillery guns, and armored personnel carriers, have been destroyed during sustained retaliatory strikes.