Anti-militancy drive to go on despite Taliban rhetoric: Pakistan 

Strongly reacting to the statement given by the spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Sunday that Pakistan had already given a response to ‘misleading’ statements given by him, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a statement on a social media platform, X, the minister said, “Pakistani nation, the country’s military and civilian leadership are all in complete harmony and are taking steps in the national interests.”

He further said there existed in Pakistan a consensus on the country’s security policies and a comprehensive strategy to deal with Afghanistan.

He added that the people of Pakistan, especially those of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), were fully aware of the Taliban patronage of Indian proxies. “The truth of the matter is that there now exist serious differences among Taliban leaders, who are not representatives of the people of Afghanistan,” Asif said, adding that the Taliban were involved in the persecution of women, children and minorities and had snatched from them their rights to education, speech and to elect their representatives.”

The minister said that despite the passage of four years, the Taliban had failed to keep the promises they had made to the international community. 

He claimed that the Taliban were following the agenda of external forces only to hide their bad governance, lawlessness and internal fissures. “The Taliban are acting as proxies of external forces,” he alleged.

Contrary to that, he went on to say, Pakistan’s policy was in its national interest and for stability in the region.

Asif reiterated the government of Pakistan’s resolve to continue to fight against the militants operating from across the border in order to ensure the safety of its citizens.

He asserted that false statements being made by the Taliban would not change the facts, and that practical steps were the only way to build trust between the two countries.

Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor