ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s defense minister said the Taliban and Israel were the only two parties to support India’s recent military operation targeting Pakistan, underscoring shifting regional alignments and deepening diplomatic strain.
In comments reported by Geo News, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif criticized the Taliban for aligning with India, despite Pakistan’s earlier support for the group during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“We accepted their demands and carried the burden of international accusations, being labeled a terrorist state,” Asif said. “Today, the same Taliban are standing alongside Israel in support of India.”
Asif cited remarks from Indian journalist and defense analyst Praveen Sahni, who claimed that only Israel and Afghanistan supported India’s “Operation Sandur,” which was launched following a deadly April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir.
“This isn’t my claim — it’s what Praveen Sahni, a respected voice in Indian defense media, is saying,” Asif added.
Geo News reported that the remarks came just days after unconfirmed reports surfaced of a secret visit to India by a senior Taliban defense official. Neither Kabul nor New Delhi has publicly acknowledged the meeting.
India launched Operation Sandur in response to the Kashmir attack, which it blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Islamabad has denied any involvement.
The operation included cross-border strikes into Pakistani territory, prompting several days of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. A cease-fire was brokered with assistance from the United States, bringing an end to the hostilities.
Neither Israeli nor Taliban representatives have commented on the Pakistani minister’s claims.
