PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has warned the federal government against launching "cross-border" attacks into Afghanistan.
The PTI warning came hard on the heels of Defence Minister Khwaja Asif hinted at targeting Pakistani Taliban’s alleged hideouts across the Durand Line.
In a recent interview with a US media outlet, Khwaja Asif vaguely spoke of the government's plans to conduct attacks on TTP targets in Afghanistan.
However, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly denied the presence of foreign fighters in the country. It has also said no one will be allowed to use Afghan soil against any country.
"We don't allow any interference in our country, so we shouldn't interfere in any other country," members of the united opposition in the National Assembly said on Friday.
About Asif's rhetoric, they cautioned such harsh statements harmed relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in addition to endangering regional peace.
Ex-speaker Asad Qaiser said: "Our ties with India are based on rivalry, and now we are trying to treat Afghanistan similarly. We cannot afford further escalation of conflict."
Omar Ayub, the opposition leader, pointed out: "even major world powers have faced challenges in Afghanistan, a geostrategic focal point in the region".
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar blamed the defence minister for issuing the statement without taking the lower house into confidence.
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