Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has voiced concerns about a potential “two-front war” scenario for Islamabad, particularly in light of recent border clashes with Afghanistan and the ongoing tensions with India. Following a recent ceasefire agreement with Afghanistan, brokered by Qatar and Turkey, Asif suggested that India might be seeking to maintain Pakistan’s preoccupation on multiple fronts.
Asif explicitly stated that India’s objective is to keep Pakistan occupied on both the eastern (with India) and western (with Afghanistan) borders. This assertion follows his repeated accusations that Afghanistan is acting as a “proxy for India” and his warnings of a “two-front war” during periods of heightened tensions with Kabul.
He further alleged that India has been involved in a “proxy war against Pakistan since the Ashraf Ghani era,” adding that evidence to support this claim is widely accepted. “If necessary, we will present proof,” Asif told Geo News, emphasizing that “India seeks to keep Pakistan preoccupied on two fronts: the eastern and western.”
The Pakistani minister expressed optimism regarding the recent ceasefire with Afghanistan, anticipating positive outcomes from mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey. This development comes after recent clashes on the Afghan-Pak border, which coincided with the Afghan foreign minister’s visit to India.
In earlier statements, Asif had reiterated his claim that Afghanistan was being manipulated by India, suggesting that the Taliban leadership was under Delhi’s influence. He also warned that India “could play dirty at the border” and that Islamabad was prepared for a “two-front war,” indicating a belief that India might exploit such situations.