Pakistan Claims Readiness for Two-Front War as Khawaja Asif Blames Kabul for Islamabad Blast

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has reignited regional tensions with a fresh round of belligerent claims, asserting that Islamabad is prepared to simultaneously confront India on the eastern front and the Taliban regime on the western border. His comments follow Tuesday’s devastating suicide attack in Islamabad that left 12 dead and 36 injured, an assault claimed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Addressing a public gathering, Asif warned that Pakistan was ready for “round two” of a full-scale confrontation. “We are ready for war on two fronts,” he declared, invoking divine support while hinting at growing hostility from both New Delhi and Kabul. His remarks come amid rising domestic insecurity and deepening economic pressures within Pakistan.

The minister escalated rhetoric further by directly attributing the attack to the Afghan Taliban. “Bringing this war to Islamabad is a message from Kabul,” he said on X, claiming Pakistan had “full strength” to retaliate. The statement marks one of the sharpest public accusations against the Taliban government in recent months, highlighting the collapse of what once appeared to be warm ties between the two sides.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also hinted at foreign hands, alleging the involvement of groups “active with Indian support.” However, Asif’s framing of the incident as an Afghan-origin warning underscores Islamabad’s internal contradictions as it struggles to control its security landscape.

The remarks come just days after Asif stirred controversy by dismissing the deadly Delhi car explosion—currently under investigation—as a “gas cylinder blast.” Despite early forensic findings pointing to a military-grade explosive, the Pakistani minister accused India of politicising the incident and preemptively claimed New Delhi would blame Pakistan.

Indian security officials have brushed aside his assertions as political deflection. Senior sources told All India Story that Asif’s tone reflects “nervousness and strategic anxiety” within the Pakistani establishment as both internal instability and border tensions intensify. Officials also indicated that Pakistan’s accusations are an attempt to shift attention away from its faltering counter-terror mechanisms and deteriorating control over militant networks.

As Pakistan grapples with mounting security threats, economic distress and diplomatic isolation, its leadership continues to project military bravado. Asif’s latest comments appear aimed at shaping public sentiment at home, even as they deepen regional unease. With Afghanistan relations fraying and India maintaining firm silence, Islamabad’s aggressive posture risks inflaming an already fragile geopolitical environment—setting the stage for more uncertainty in a region where stability remains precariously balanced.