Khawaja Asif Orders All Afghans to Leave Pakistan

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a strong warning to the Afghan government, declaring that all Afghans in Pakistan must return to their homeland. He said Pakistan’s resources belong solely to its own citizens and accused Kabul of aiding terrorists and acting as a “proxy for India.” The remarks have intensified diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries already embroiled in a series of border clashes and security disputes.

In a social media post on Friday, Khawaja Asif said, “All Afghans residing on Pakistani soil must return to their homeland. They now have their own government and caliphate in Kabul. Our land and resources belong to 250 million Pakistanis.” The statement by the Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reflects a new and hardened stance from Islamabad, marking a decisive shift from years of cautious engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime.

The statement from Khawaja Asif came as tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated following reports of Pakistani airstrikes in Paktika province. The Taliban government accused Islamabad of violating the ceasefire and said the truce had been “broken.” However, Pakistani officials maintained that the strikes targeted militant hideouts linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — a group Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering.

Revealing the extent of Pakistan’s frustration, Khawaja Asif said Islamabad had sent 836 protest notes and 13 demarches to the Afghan authorities over repeated cross-border terror incidents. “There will no longer be protest notes or appeals for peace,” the minister said. “No delegations will go to Kabul. Wherever the source of terrorism lies, it will have to pay a heavy price.” His remarks underline how Pakistan’s patience with Kabul has reached its limit, particularly amid rising terror attacks across the border.

The Pakistan Defence Minister further alleged that the Taliban government in Kabul was now functioning as a “proxy of India”. “The rulers of Kabul, who are now sitting in India’s lap and conspiring against Pakistan, were once under our protection, hiding on our land,” he said, evoking sharp memories of Pakistan’s past role in supporting the Taliban during its years in exile. The minister’s accusation signals a deepening mistrust, suggesting Islamabad now views the Afghan regime as aligned with its regional rival, India.

Khawaja Asif also drew attention to the growing human and security toll inside Pakistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021. He stated that Pakistan had suffered 10,347 terror attacks and 3,844 deaths, including civilians and soldiers, since the group came to power. According to the Pakistan Defence Minister, these figures are a direct result of Kabul’s failure to act against militants operating from its territory. “We have shown patience for years,” he said. “But the time for patience is over.”

Islamabad has consistently demanded that the Afghan Taliban prevent militants from using Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. Kabul, however, has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that Afghan territory is not being used against any neighbour. Despite repeated diplomatic exchanges, the mistrust between the two nations continues to widen — a sign that reconciliation efforts may take years.

The remarks from Khawaja Asif have also drawn strong reactions from political observers and analysts in Pakistan, who say the government’s decision to expel Afghans and adopt a more aggressive tone could have far-reaching humanitarian and geopolitical consequences. With millions of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan for decades, the announcement has sparked concerns about an impending refugee crisis and further strain on regional stability.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan Defence Minister had made headlines after suggesting that madrassa students could be mobilized as a “second line of defence” amid growing tensions with India. His latest remarks reflect a continuation of hardline rhetoric from Islamabad, emphasizing national security and internal sovereignty over diplomatic compromise.

Asif’s comments came just as a 48-hour ceasefire between Pakistani forces and the Taliban expired, raising fears of renewed conflict along the volatile Durand Line. Reports suggest both sides may still meet in Doha for peace talks, but the tone from Islamabad indicates that Pakistan’s trust in Kabul is at an all-time low.

Framing his statement as a defence of Pakistan’s dignity and sovereignty, Khawaja Asif concluded, “Self-respecting nations do not thrive on foreign land and resources. Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis — and no one else.”

With Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif taking such a strong position against Afghanistan, analysts warn that South Asia could be entering a new phase of regional confrontation. For now, the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan seems trapped between unhealed wounds, mutual suspicion, and the heavy shadow of history — with no easy way out.