Imran Khan criticizes Pakistan's stance on Afghanistan relationships

Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has criticized the current government for its hostile stance towards Afghanistan. He argued that Afghanistan should not be seen as an enemy. Khan's sister, Aleema Khan, shared his concerns with the media while visiting him in jail. She questioned why the government wants to provoke conflict with "Muslim brothers." The government's comments come amid increasing violence in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recently, a Parliamentary Committee on National Security met to discuss the rising terrorism incidents. The meeting included Prime Minister Shehbaz and military leaders but lacked some important opposition figures. The need for this meeting became clear after a serious attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) last week. Militants attacked train tracks and held over 440 passengers hostage in a remote area. This attack was reportedly connected to handlers in Afghanistan. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, Pakistan now ranks as the second-most affected country by terrorism. The report noted a worrying 45% increase in deaths related to terrorism over the past year. In response to the security situation, the government has considered cross-border military actions in Afghanistan. The Defence Minister indicated that Pakistan might pursue terrorists into Afghan territory if necessary. The government plans to use targeted operations and intelligence-based actions to combat terrorism effectively.