Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking as the Istanbul talks remain stalled following the Doha ceasefire — warned that Pakistan’s response to attacks from Afghan soil will be severe if cross-border militancy continues. He noted that the Doha round had produced only a fragile and short-lived lull in violence.
Key lines reported today
• “If Afghanistan even looks at Islamabad, we will gouge their eyes out.”
• Pakistan would respond “50 times stronger” if provoked from Afghan territory.
• Kabul is acting as a “puppet of Delhi” (commonly paraphrased in Urdu as “Kabul Bharat ka chamcha”).
• “Islamabad ki taraf nazar uthai to aankh nikal lengay”
Asif’s rhetoric turns deterrence into a clear ultimatum. If militant attacks persist, Pakistan intends to shift from pressure to decisive action. The stalled talks are now a test, failure risks rapid escalation.
@ThePulsePoint