The minister’s statement comes in the wake of a suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed 12 people and injured over 30. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. Following the incident, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused “India-backed groups” of aiding terrorism in the country, while Asif blamed the Afghan Taliban, calling the bombing “a message from Kabul.”

Asif asserted that Pakistan has “the full strength to respond” if such attacks continue, warning that the government in Kabul must take responsibility for cross-border terrorism. The defence minister’s remarks appear to be an attempt to project military strength despite Pakistan’s worsening economic crisis and strained diplomatic relations.

Asif also courted controversy for downplaying the recent high-intensity car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed 13 people. He described the explosion as a “gas cylinder blast” and accused India of “politicising the issue” to frame Pakistan.

Indian security officials dismissed his comments as “baseless propaganda,” saying they reflect Islamabad’s nervousness following forensic reports indicating that the Delhi explosion involved military-grade explosives.

The provocative rhetoric comes at a time when Pakistan faces increasing domestic instability and renewed militant threats, raising concerns about regional security and diplomatic tensions with India and Afghanistan.

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