Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that external actors with influence in Kabul are acting at the behest of New Delhi and that the Afghan government lacks the authority to conduct meaningful negotiations.

He warned that Pakistan would respond forcefully if provoked.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Saath,” Asif said Kabul was playing a “puppet role” for India and insisted Islamabad would not enter talks with those “whose hands are stained with the blood of our children.”

He added that Pakistan would respond “many times over” if Kabul or its backers attempted to target Islamabad.

Asif blamed past policies for current instability and said those responsible for shaping those policies should be held to account.

He accused India of launching a proxy campaign and suggested that, having suffered setbacks in a direct confrontation, New Delhi was seeking retribution through proxies operating from Afghan soil.

On the talks with the Afghan Taliban, the defence minister expressed scepticism, saying the movement does not command control across all of Afghanistan and that assurances from one faction cannot be relied upon.

“Since the Afghan Taliban came to power, our children have continued to be martyred,” he said.

Asif also stressed respect for the elected provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and said negotiations with the Afghan Taliban had been conducted transparently, with provincial interests protected.

On the wider issue of Palestine, he said that if the Muslim world decided to deploy forces to protect Palestinians and Pakistan could play a role, contributing would be a matter of national pride.

He clarified, however, that any such decision would be taken by the government and that Parliament would be consulted.