Amid increasing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif made a big claim about Afghan nationals serving in the South Asian country's armed forces.
During an interview with Pakistani media outlet Dawn, Asif revealed that there have been cases of undocumented Afghani nationals joining the Pakistani Army's ranks before they were dismissed from service after investigations confirmed their dubious credentials.
Asif cited an example of India in this context as he pointed out that an Indian is required to have a Pakistani visa if he wishes to visit Sikh or Hindu shrines in Pakistan and the same would be implemented for Afghans.
Asif's statement came in the wake of the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan's Paktika and Khost provinces, which drew a warning of "bad consequences" from the Taliban.
"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistan's control," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.
A total of eight people were killed in the Pakistani air strikes as per the Taliban.
*under UN sanctions
**banned terrorist group