In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has mandated that all Afghan nationals currently in Pakistan must repatriate to Afghanistan. This directive underscores the deepening rift between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of supporting anti-Pakistan militant groups. Asif stressed that Pakistan’s resources are exclusively for its own populace of 250 million.
“All Afghans residing on Pakistani soil must return to their homeland; they now have their own government, their own caliphate in Kabul,” the minister stated, adding that dependence on foreign resources is not a sustainable path for any nation. This pronouncement signals a severe downturn in diplomatic engagement, with Asif explicitly ruling out future peace appeals or delegations to Kabul.
The volatile situation stems from Pakistan’s persistent claims that Afghanistan is complicit in sheltering TTP terrorists. The two countries have engaged in tit-for-tat strikes along their shared border, with Afghanistan retaliating after Pakistani airstrikes on alleged TTP strongholds. These clashes, which have led to significant casualties and border incursions, have severely strained relations. While Afghanistan denies using its territory for aggression and advocates for regional peace, Pakistan’s stance remains unyielding.