Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has urged the Afghan Taliban to immediately halt policies destabilizing Pakistan, warning that cross-border militancy not only threatens the lives of Pakistani citizens but also imperils wider regional stability.
Addressing reporters in Brussels on Saturday, August 16, Field Marshal Munir stressed that the Taliban must be held accountable for enabling unrest across the border. “The blood of innocent Pakistanis is being shed, and those responsible cannot escape accountability,” he warned, underscoring Islamabad’s long-standing concerns about militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Field Marshal Munir also outlined Pakistan’s foreign policy outlook, making clear that Islamabad would pursue balanced relations with both China and the United States. “We will not sacrifice one friendship for another,” he affirmed, noting that Pakistan’s strategic position demanded equilibrium rather than exclusivity.
Turning his attention to India, the army chief accused New Delhi of orchestrating proxy operations aimed at destabilizing Pakistan and alleged that Indian intelligence activities have intensified following setbacks in past conflicts between the two countries.
On the global front, Field Marshal Munir declared Pakistan’s support for U.S. initiatives to end the war in Ukraine and reminded that Islamabad was among the first nations to endorse Donald Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.
His remarks come at a time of heightened tension along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of providing safe havens to militants targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians. Analysts warn that without genuine cooperation from the Taliban, cross-border violence risks escalating further, with grave implications for regional peace and Pakistan’s delicate diplomatic balancing with major global powers.
