Islamabad: In an unusual diplomatic move, Pakistan has openly accused India of fueling tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, calling for former U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate a permanent solution. The statement, delivered by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, comes amid a surge in cross-border violence and escalating retaliation between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters.
Speaking in an interview with Geo TV, Khawaja Asif claimed that India is the primary instigator behind the deteriorating security situation along Pakistan-Afghanistan borders. “India has stirred up the Taliban. That is why the conflict has spiraled out of control. I cannot even say whether a permanent ceasefire is possible,” Asif remarked, referencing a recent week-long visit by Taliban Foreign Minister Muttahida Qadri to India. “The consequences of that visit are now evident,” he added, implying that the Taliban’s actions were influenced by New Delhi.
The tension escalated after the Taliban reportedly retaliated for a Pakistani airstrike near Kabul, claiming the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers. Islamabad, however, refrained from confirming the casualty figures, issuing a counter-statement that Pakistani forces had eliminated 200 Taliban militants. A fragile ceasefire was brokered following intervention from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but hostilities resumed when Pakistan conducted another airstrike targeting Taliban positions in Kandahar. Taliban fighters, reportedly seizing a Pakistani T-55 tank, staged street demonstrations mocking Pakistani soldiers, including parading captured uniforms.
Amid this escalating conflict, Pakistan has turned to the United States for intervention. Khawaja Asif suggested that while most American presidents initiate wars, Trump is uniquely committed to ending them. “No other U.S. president has shown a genuine love for peace like Trump. That is why we seek his help to resolve the Pak-Afghan war,” Asif said. According to reports, Trump responded that he was currently engaged in resolving other conflicts but promised to address the situation in due course.
The Taliban, however, have expressed skepticism regarding any U.S. intervention. The group had previously refused Trump’s demand for the return of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which Washington sought to reclaim as a strategic countermeasure against China. Taliban leaders warned that Afghanistan would not cede “a single grain of Afghan soil,” underscoring their firm stance on sovereignty amid external pressures. Analysts caution that any U.S. involvement could provoke further tensions, as the Taliban remain highly sensitive to perceived infringements on Afghan territory.
The unfolding crisis highlights a complex triangular tension: Pakistan’s attempts to manage its border security, India’s alleged influence over Taliban movements, and the delicate role of U.S. diplomacy. While Islamabad seeks international mediation, the Taliban’s insistence on Afghan sovereignty signals that any resolution may require nuanced negotiations beyond conventional military or diplomatic measures.