Pakistan’s Defence Minister Warns of “Two-Front War,” Accuses Afghanistan of Acting as India’s Proxy

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday reiterated his claim that Islamabad faces a “two-front war,” even as the country agreed to a ceasefire with Afghanistan following last month’s border clashes.

Asif accused India of trying to keep Pakistan “engaged on both eastern and western fronts,” referring to recent fighting with Afghanistan along the western border and the May confrontation with India during Operation Sindoor on the eastern front. He alleged that Afghanistan was “acting as India’s proxy,” repeating a charge he has made multiple times in recent weeks.

“India has been waging a proxy war against Pakistan since the Ashraf Ghani era. The evidence is widely accepted now,” Asif told Geo News, adding that Islamabad was prepared to present proof if required.

He also claimed that India could “play dirty” during future border tensions, saying a “vile act” could not be ruled out.

The minister expressed hope that mediation by Qatar and Turkey — which brokered a ceasefire during talks in Istanbul on Thursday — would help stabilise relations with Kabul. The talks followed violent exchanges along the Afghan–Pakistan border last month, coinciding with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India.

Asif further accused the Taliban leadership of being influenced by New Delhi, saying, “Those pulling the strings in Kabul are being controlled by Delhi.”

The latest friction with Afghanistan comes months after India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in May in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, targeting militant and military sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.