ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Wednesday reiterated that his party would fully support the Pakistani state in the event of escalating tensions with Afghanistan, while also urging continued efforts for peace and dialogue.
Speaking on Geo News’ program Capital Talk, Gohar Khan said, “We will stand with Pakistan like we did during the war with India — Afghanistan will be no different.” However, he emphasised that Pakistan must strive to coexist peacefully with its neighbours, saying, “It is in our best interest to live peacefully.”
Commenting on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, the PTI chairman said those with the most at stake “must explore every possible avenue” to ensure stability. “If Afghanistan is pursuing dialogue, we must also continue seeking consensus,” he said, acknowledging that the Taliban did not exercise complete control over the country.
Read More: Pakistan–Afghanistan Border Tensions Escalate, Mediation Sought
“If the Afghan Taliban were to attack Pakistan, our response would naturally mirror that against India,” Gohar stated, adding that conflict should not halt diplomacy. “Talks must continue, and friendly nations should use their influence to facilitate engagement with the Taliban,” he added.
His remarks came as four-day peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul ended inconclusively, with Islamabad reiterating its counterterrorism demands. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the development, saying Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to honour its Doha Agreement commitments.
Tarar accused the Taliban of supporting anti-Pakistan groups, stating, “The Afghan Taliban have given complete support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and are included in their formations.” He warned that while Pakistan had shown restraint, it retained the right to defend itself: “We will defeat Afghanistan in this proxy war.”
Read More: Pak-Afghan Talks Fail to Bring Any Solution, Says Tarar
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have heightened following unprovoked cross-border attacks on October 12 by Taliban forces and India-backed TTP militants. In response, Pakistan carried out precision strikes inside Kandahar, Kabul, and border regions of North and South Waziristan, eliminating multiple terrorist hideouts. The ISPR confirmed that 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred while over 200 militants were killed.
Both nations later agreed to a temporary ceasefire during Doha talks on October 19, but efforts to establish a lasting peace mechanism remain ongoing.