Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid has warned that any attack by Pakistan would be met with a direct response from the Afghan government, saying instability in Kabul would also make Islamabad insecure.
In an interview with TOLOnews, Mujahid said Afghanistan has consistently tried to resolve disputes with Pakistan through dialogue and diplomacy, but claimed that Islamabad has not followed the same approach.
“If Kabul is made unsafe, Islamabad will become unsafe. If Kabul is attacked, Islamabad will be attacked," Mujahid said, warning that Pakistan should not assume it could carry out attacks in Afghanistan without facing consequences.
The minister also addressed the long-standing dispute over the Durand Line, the border drawn during British colonial rule that separates Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mujahid said Pakistan is pushing for the line to be formally recognised as an international border, but described it as a historic issue that remains unresolved.
He said previous consultations between the two countries, including talks mediated by Saudi Arabia, had led to preliminary agreements but disagreements on several issues prevented a final settlement.
Mujahid outlined three key principles guiding Afghanistan’s policy towards Pakistan: that neither country’s territory should be used against the other, respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and separating trade issues from security disputes.
“Our soil will not be used against Pakistan, and Pakistan’s soil should not be used against us," he said, adding that Afghanistan remains committed to protecting its territorial integrity.
Despite rising tensions, Mujahid said the Afghan government remains open to dialogue if Pakistan takes genuine steps to resolve outstanding issues.
He also noted that Afghanistan had earlier handed over three Pakistani soldiers who were detained during clashes, describing the move as a goodwill gesture toward Islamabad.
Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News
