In an interview with a private TV channel, the defence minister said the leadership of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains based in Afghanistan, and that any future attack could be falsely portrayed by India as originating from within Pakistan, even though, he asserted, “every such incident is 200 per cent linked to Afghanistan.”

Asif clarified that Pakistan has held talks with the TTA (Afghan Taliban), not with the TTP.

“We engaged with the Afghan Taliban, not the terrorists,” he said, adding that the TTP has its own homes, families, and training camps in Afghanistan, and the number of Afghans joining their camps is increasing.

He further said that the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had supported and settled these terrorists inside Pakistan during his tenure, a move that emboldened them.

The defence minister reiterated that India might seek to derail the peace process and could attempt to distance itself from any potential attacks by claiming non-involvement.

However, he stressed that all signs of violence trace back to Afghan soil.

Khawaja Asif also praised Qatar’s role during difficult times, calling its assistance in facilitating negotiations commendable.