Do not test our patience, otherwise the consequences will be devastating; Afghanistan warns Pakistan

Kabul (Afghanistan) – ‘Do not test our patience, otherwise the consequences will be devastating’, Afghanistan’s Interior Minister and Taliban leader Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani warned while addressing Pakistan. The warning came after Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir alleged at a tribal gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that anti-Pakistan terrorist operations had been carried out from Afghan soil with the involvement of the Afghan Taliban and India. Haqqani responded to those accusations with the statement quoted above.

Munir had claimed that despite Pakistan’s repeated efforts to improve ties with Kabul, Afghan territory remains a safe haven for militants who foment the uprisings called ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ (rebellion of Kharijites) and ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ (large-scale conflict or agitation related to India).

Khalifa Sirajuddin said,

1. ‘Although Afghanistan does not possess long-range missiles or large weapons, if attacked we will respond decisively. Protecting our territory is one of our priorities. Despite everything, the door for mutual understanding remains open; but if anyone attacks us, they must remember that we have fought with the kings of the world, and defending our territory is not a difficult task for us’.

2. In recent meetings involving Pakistan, held in Qatar and Turkey, Pakistan was clearly told not to link its internal problems to Afghanistan. ‘These problems are yours. You have the remedies; then why are you linking your problems to us ? The Afghan people have proven themselves on the battlefield, and if our patience is tested again, the consequences will be catastrophic’, he emphasized.

Editorial Perspectives

For the past 35 years Pakistan has been carrying out terrorist acts in India — but has India ever issued a statement like this ? Has India responded militarily in the decisive manner that Afghanistan is demonstrating ?
If one Muslim country can show readiness to fight another Muslim country so bluntly, why can’t India take equivalent action against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorist acts in India on the basis of religion ?
Possessing nuclear weapons alone is insufficient; what is also required are bold, courageous leaders — that is the lesson to be learnt from Afghanistan.