Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, stating that any attack on Islamabad will be met with a response "50 times stronger." This statement comes in the wake of failed peace talks between the two nations in Istanbul, which ended without any agreement. Asif accused the Afghan government of acting as a puppet for India, claiming that the leadership in Kabul is being controlled by Delhi. He stated, "The people in Kabul pulling the strings and staging the puppet show are being controlled by Delhi," and added that India is using Afghanistan to compensate for its perceived failures on its western border.

Asif's comments were made during an appearance on the Geo News programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath." He expressed frustration over the collapse of negotiations, alleging that every time progress was made, the Afghan side would withdraw under pressure from India. He remarked, "Whenever we got close to an agreement... there was intervention, and the agreement was withdrawn."

The minister also claimed that Kabul is responsible for terrorism in Pakistan, stating, "There should be no doubt that Kabul is responsible for the terrorism in Pakistan. Kabul is a tool for Delhi." He warned that if Afghanistan were to attack Islamabad, Pakistan would respond decisively. "If Afghanistan even looks at Islamabad, we will gouge their eyes out," he declared.

The recent round of peace talks, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, began on October 19 in Doha but failed to yield results in Istanbul. Both sides had previously agreed to a ceasefire, but ongoing disputes over terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan hindered progress. Asif acknowledged the efforts of the Afghan negotiators but criticized their leadership for derailing the discussions.

In response to Pakistan's accusations, Afghan officials have dismissed the claims as unfounded. The situation remains tense, with both countries facing a precarious diplomatic landscape as they navigate their complex relationship amid rising hostilities and mutual distrust.