New Delhi, Oct. 12 – Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi warned on Sunday that Pakistan must change its approach or else Afghanistan has other options for resolving growing tensions, a statement that comes amid already‑severe border clashes that have killed more than 50 Pakistani soldiers and seen 19 Afghan border posts seized by Pakistani forces.
Muttaqi said Afghanistan does not harass civilians and that most Pakistanis are peace‑seeking. “We have no problem with ordinary people here in Pakistan,” he told local media. “A few hard‑line elements are causing friction, but we are all for calm.”
The flare‑up follows Pakistani air strikes on Kabul on Thursday that the Afghan capital blamed on Islamabad. Afghan officials say their troops killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight raids, while Pakistan claims 23 casualties. Al Jazeera reports that Pakistan’s security forces captured 19 Afghan posts. In response, Afghan troops claimed victory, saying they met their “military objectives” and defended their borders.
“We will keep our borders safe and protect our national interests,” Muttaqi added. He noted that Qatar and Saudi Arabia have urged an end to the violence, which has prompted Kabul to pause its response for now. “We want a stable situation and good relations, not endless fighting,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of continued conflict, the minister repeated that Afghanistan remains united if it is attacked. He highlighted that the country has endured 40 years of war and is now striving for lasting peace. “If Pakistan does not want peace, Afghanistan will have other means, but we prefer diplomacy,” he said.
A key point of contention is the presence of the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Taliban supporters in Pakistan claim that TTP operates in Afghanistan, a claim Muttaqi denied. He said the U.S.–backed Pakistani military conducted operations that displaced many ethnic Pashtuns, who sought refuge on Afghan soil. The Afghan side says those displaced families are now living in Afghanistan as refugees.
The Durand Line – the 2,400‑km border between Afghanistan and Pakistan – remains difficult to manage. “Authority over this border cannot be handed over to any single group,” Muttaqi said. “If Pakistan truly wants peace, it must control the militias within its own territory and not just provoke a conflict across the line.”
He concluded that strength alone cannot secure peace. “Pakistan has a big army and good intelligence, yet it fails to keep its people safe. The people of both nations want peace. The real question is why Pakistan lets its own civilians suffer to appease a few hard‑liners?” The voice of the Afghan foreign ministry emphasized that many and that their ultimate goal is peaceful coexistence.
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Source: aninews
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