 "'Our land and resources...': Khawaja Asif asks Afghans in Pakistan to return 'homeland' amid rising tensions")
Amid ongoing clashes with the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday (October 17, 2025) said Islamabad can no longer maintain relations with Afghanistan as it did in the past and asked Afghans living in Pakistan to return to their “homeland,” saying they now “have their own government.”
He added that Pakistan’s land and resources belong solely to its 250 million citizens.
‘All Afghans residing on Pakistani soil…’: Asif’s statements on X
Taking to X, Asif wrote, “Pakistan can no longer afford to maintain relations with Kabul as it did in the past.”
He added, “All Afghans residing on Pakistani soil must return to their homeland; they now have their own government/caliphate in Kabul… Our land and resources belong to 250 million Pakistanis.”
Asif warned that Pakistan would no longer issue protest notes or send delegations to Kabul, saying the country had already sent numerous warnings:
“Pakistan issued 836 protest notes to the Afghan side and another 13 demarches. There will no longer be protest notes or appeals for peace; no delegations will go to Kabul. Wherever the source of terrorism lies, it will have to pay a heavy price.”
Asif also criticised Afghans living in Pakistan, stating, “Self-respecting nations do not thrive on foreign land and resources… They must live with Pakistan as neighbours.”
He claimed Pakistan is ready to defend itself against further aggression from Kabul and said that despite Islamabad’s “efforts and sacrifices over five years,” there has been no positive response from Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s controversial role in creating problems for Afghanistan
Though Pakistan itself has played a deep and often controversial role in creating problems in Afghanistan, including during the Soviet-Afghan War and the subsequent US-led intervention, it continues to receive aid from global powers such as the United States.
While Islamabad allied with the US in the War on Terror, Pakistan has faced criticism for allegedly harboring Taliban leaders and other militants within its borders. This duality has strained relations, with the US providing approximately $7.89 billion in military aid since 2001 while expressing concerns over Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsPakistan strikes inside Afghanistan, civilians killed
The remarks came after reports that Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan late Friday, killing at least eight people and breaking the ceasefire that had brought two days of calm along the border. The Afghanistan Cricket Board said three players visiting the region for a tournament were killed in the strikes and announced withdrawal from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series against Pakistan.
The 48-hour truce had paused nearly a week of deadly border clashes that left dozens of troops and civilians dead on both sides. According to Pakistani security officials, forces conducted “precision aerial strikes” targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a local faction linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), NDTV reported.
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