Pakistan denies acting on behalf of US to engineer regime change in Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on October 20 dismissed Afghan accusations that Islamabad is acting on behalf of the United States to orchestrate a regime change in Kabul, calling the claims “total nonsense.”

The remarks follow a week of deadly border clashes — the worst since the Taliban seized power in 2021 — that killed dozens and injured hundreds, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Both sides agreed to a ceasefire in Doha on Sunday and are set to meet again on October 25 in Istanbul.

“I don’t want to use any strong word for that, but it’s total nonsense and nothing else. Why would we? We have enough involvement in Afghan affairs,” Asif told Arab News. “For the last four or five decades, we have had enough. We want to stay away and live like decent neighbours.”

He also rejected claims that Washington seeks to topple the Taliban, saying the group already enjoys “a comfortable relationship with the United States.”

Asif confirmed that a new understanding reached in Doha would see Türkiye and Qatar act as guarantors to ensure the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) no longer operates from Afghan territory.

“Everything hinges on this agreement, and the most important clause is that TTP should not be allowed to operate from their territory,” he said, adding that a monitoring mechanism will be finalised in Istanbul.

On the issue of Afghan refugees, Asif said the Taliban only asked that repatriations be conducted “in an honourable manner.”

“They were our guests, or whatever you can call them, for many, many years. If they are going home, we wish them luck,” he added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev