Pak-Afghan ties severed, border “hostile” , Khawaja Asif warns hostilities can resume at any time

RAWALPINDI — Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said Islamabad currently has “no ties” with Kabul after what he described as an unprovoked Afghan attack that sparked deadly clashes along the Pakistan‑Afghanistan border late last weekend.

“It’s a stalemate right now. You can say there are no active hostilities, but the environment is hostile,” Asif told Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath, warning that fighting “can resume at any time.” He added: “We cannot lower our guard.”

The Inter‑Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that overnight skirmishes beginning on the night of Oct 11/12, 2025 left 23 Pakistani troops martyred and 29 injured. Islamabad said its forces neutralised more than 200 Afghan Taliban and affiliated terrorists, and briefly captured 21 hostile positions on the Afghan side, damaging camps and support networks used to plan cross‑border attacks.

Asif defended Pakistan’s responses, saying the military “did not target populated areas… we targeted their hideouts.” He challenged Afghan assurances and questioned the credibility of Kabul’s claims of control over militant groups operating from Afghan soil, while urging greater “honesty in diplomacy” to pave a resolution.

Afghanistan has described its action as retaliatory for alleged Pakistani air strikes; Islamabad has not publicly confirmed those strikes but has repeatedly demanded Kabul stop harbouring Tehreek‑i‑Taliban Pakistan elements.

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With tensions high, the defence minister said negotiations are conditional: if Kabul continues threats while seeking talks, Pakistan will respond to aggression first and negotiate later. For now, Islamabad maintains heightened readiness along the porous border as the nation awaits diplomatic or military developments