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Pakistan Warns Kabul As Afghan Minister Visits India: What “Enough Is Enough” Signals For South Asia

Pakistan’s defense minister has issued a stark warning at a sensitive moment for the region. As Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visits New Delhi, Khawaja Asif told Pakistan’s National Assembly that “enough is enough,” accusing Kabul of sheltering militants and saying “Afghans have always stood with India, yesterday, today and tomorrow.” The remark lit up a debate that cuts across border security, counterterror claims, refugee policy, and the shifting ties between India and Afghanistan since 2021.

This breakdown walks through what was said, why it matters now, and how the ground has shifted between Islamabad and Kabul. It also looks at why Islamabad is uneasy as India and Afghanistan explore more engagement. For your first View.

What Khawaja Asif Said, And Why It Landed Hard

In a charged address, Pakistan’s defense minister declared that patience had run out with terrorism “from Afghan soil,” a phrase Pakistan’s leadership has used repeatedly in recent months. He went further by asserting that Afghans have historically stood with India, and will continue to do so. The implication was clear, Pakistan sees Kabul moving closer to New Delhi, and views that tilt as a strategic setback.

For context on the remarks and their framing, see the India Today report on Asif’s “enough is enough” warning to the Taliban regime in Kabul, which captures his statement in the National Assembly and the pressure building in Islamabad to act against cross-border militancy: Khawaja Asif warns Taliban over militant attack on Pakistan.

Other outlets echoed the same tone and language, underlining a message to Kabul that Pakistan would “no longer tolerate” attacks traced back to Afghanistan. For a quick read on how that warning was delivered publicly, see NDTV’s coverage of Asif’s message to Afghanistan.

The Timing: India-Afghanistan Outreach And Pakistan’s Worry

Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India comes with heavy symbolism. India kept lines open to the Afghan people after 2021 with humanitarian aid, medical visas, and limited engagement. A formal visit by Kabul’s top diplomat signals a willingness to discuss practical cooperation, trade facilitation, and connectivity, at least at a technical level.

From Islamabad’s vantage point, that is not a small shift. For years, Pakistan sought “strategic depth” in Afghanistan, hoping a friendly regime in Kabul would align with its security priorities. The expectation was that doors to influence, trade routes, and regional projects would open wide. Instead, ties have soured.

How Pakistan-Afghanistan Ties Flipped After 2021

The relationship turned from warm optics to cold standoffs. If you track the last few years, a pattern emerges.

• Border disputes resurfaced. Kabul rejected Pakistan’s push to formalize the Durand Line as an international border. This led to repeated clashes and closures at key crossings.
• Trade and transit suffered. Shutdowns at Torkham and Chaman choked commerce, stranded travelers, and raised costs for traders on both sides.
• Refugee pressure spiked. Pakistan moved to push large numbers of Afghan refugees and undocumented migrants back into Afghanistan. Kabul objected, calling it heavy-handed and destabilizing.
• Terror accusations hardened. Islamabad alleges the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operates from Afghan territory. Kabul accuses Pakistan of using force and blames Islamabad’s policies for fueling militant blowback.

It is a bitter turn for two neighbors with deep cultural and economic ties. The sharp rhetoric from both capitals has now spilled into public sessions of Pakistan’s parliament, which is where Asif’s most recent warning was delivered.

Flashpoints Fueling The Rift

Several points of friction keep flaring up.

• The Durand Line: Afghanistan’s rulers reject the border as final; Pakistan continues fencing and enforcement. This disagreement is a constant trigger for local clashes and closures.
• Cross-border firing and gate closures: Torkham and Chaman are vital for people and goods. When shots are fired or tempers flare, everything stops.
• Refugee returns: Pakistan’s repatriation push sent tens of thousands back. Kabul says it cannot absorb the influx; rights groups warn of a humanitarian hit.
• TTP and safe havens: Islamabad says anti-Pakistan militants plan and launch attacks from Afghan soil. Afghan officials deny harboring them and say they are tackling threats as they can.

To see how Pakistani media and markets read the escalation, including mention of air actions tied to TTP concerns, Moneycontrol’s roundup captures the government’s stance that Islamabad’s patience has limits: Pakistan signals strong action as militants target Pakistan.

Why The “India Factor” Stings In Islamabad

The defense minister’s line that “Afghans have always stood with India” was not an offhand jab. It points to a longer story of India-Afghanistan ties.

• India invested heavily in Afghan infrastructure and development before 2021, from roads to the parliament building.
• New Delhi kept humanitarian aid flowing after the change in Kabul, focusing on food, medicine, and scholarships.
• Technical talks and official visits suggest both sides are exploring ways to keep trade and connectivity alive without stepping on sensitive political issues.

Pakistan sees this as a challenge to its influence along its western flank. If Kabul cooperates more with India on trade or infrastructure, Islamabad fears it will lose economic leverage at border crossings and in regional corridors.

The Irony Noted In The Debate

Commentators in India highlighted a twist. Pakistan, long accused by New Delhi of exporting terror into India, is now accusing Afghanistan of sheltering anti-Pakistan militants. That inversion fuels sharp responses in Indian media.

Coverage across South Asian outlets detailed how Asif’s “enough is enough” line preceded and accompanied tougher rhetoric about striking militants wherever they hide. For a snapshot of how this discourse built up around recent security events, see News18’s account of Asif saying Pakistan is “fed up of terrorism”.

India-Afghanistan Cooperation: What It May Look Like

The visit by Amir Khan Muttaqi does not automatically mean full diplomatic recognition or sweeping agreements. It does signal a few practical priorities.

• Humanitarian channels: Food aid, medical supplies, and student visas remain central. India has leaned on these to support the Afghan people without getting entangled in politics.
• Trade facilitation: Easier visas for traders, better customs coordination, and port access through Indian routes can keep commerce moving, especially for perishable goods and pharmaceuticals.
• Regional connectivity: Discussions around transit via Iran’s ports or air corridors are likely. These routes help Afghanistan avoid over-reliance on a single border.

These items are technical and slow to move, yet they matter to businesses and ordinary people on both sides.

What This Means For Security On The Ground

When officials trade warnings, forces at the border prepare for closures and escalations. That means ripple effects for truckers, students, and patients crossing for care. It also raises risks for miscalculation if local commanders trade fire at a crossing.

Three practical effects to watch:

• Trade volatility: Expect periodic shutdowns at Torkham and Chaman. Traders may reroute through longer, costlier paths.
• Refugee pressure: If pushbacks accelerate, Kabul’s social services will strain further. Aid agencies will carry more of the load.
• Cross-border operations: Any strikes or raids would inflame tensions, with Kabul likely to protest and Islamabad pointing to security threats.

NDTV’s summary of the government’s stance captures the domestic pitch, that Pakistan will act against anyone facilitating attacks, whether inside Pakistan or across the border: Asif’s warning and terror message.

A Quick Reference: The Post-2021 Reset

Here is a simple timeline of how expectations met reality after 2021.

The pattern shows cooling ties, not consolidation. Each shock to the border or security environment pushes the two further apart.

What To Watch Next

Several signals will show whether this standoff escalates or eases.

• Border management: Do Torkham and Chaman stay open for longer stretches, or do closures return quickly?
• Refugee policy: Does Pakistan pause pushbacks, or does the next phase begin? Kabul’s response will be swift either way.
• Security incidents: Any major attack inside Pakistan traced to Afghan soil will put pressure on Islamabad to respond.
• India-Afghanistan meetings: If working groups on trade and aid continue after the visit, it suggests both sides want to keep the door open.

For ongoing coverage as official statements evolve, the India Today piece provides context on how the “enough is enough” line is shaping policy talk in Islamabad: Asif’s warning to Kabul in the National Assembly.

Bottom Line: A Harder Line From Islamabad, A New Opening For New Delhi

Asif’s comments were calibrated to send a message to Kabul and to a domestic audience. They also signaled that Pakistan sees India’s outreach to Afghanistan as a threat to its influence. Kabul, facing its own economic and humanitarian crunch, appears open to talking with New Delhi on practical matters.

The result is a tense triangle. Islamabad is pushing Kabul on security, Kabul is balancing pressure with new channels to India, and New Delhi is re-engaging in measured steps. Whether this produces more trade or more standoffs will depend on what happens along the border in the coming weeks.

Thank you for reading. Do you see a path for practical cooperation that lowers the temperature, or will security incidents keep driving policy on all sides? Share your thoughts, and keep an eye on official statements after high-level visits and parliamentary sessions.