Khawaja Asif Accuses Taliban Of Indian Proxy Control

In a significant escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused the Taliban of transforming Afghanistan into an 'Indian colony' amid rising tensions along the Durand Line. Asif stated, 'Our cup of patience has overflowed,' emphasizing that Pakistan's armed forces are prepared to deliver a decisive response to what he termed Afghan aggression. He claimed that the Taliban, after the NATO withdrawal, has failed to prioritize Afghan interests, instead gathering terrorists and exporting terrorism into Pakistan. This alarming assertion comes as border clashes intensify, with reports of retaliatory strikes from both sides, marking a potential shift towards open conflict. Asif declared, 'Now it's open war,' indicating a serious escalation in military engagement between the two nations (Daily Times, February 27, 2026; India Today, February 27, 2026).