Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir on Tuesday (October 21, 2025) said that any breach of the country’s borders would be met with a strong and clear response. Munir vaguely claimed that India-supported groups – Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij – were spreading anti-public and anti-growth ideas in Balochistan to stir up trouble.
Munir made this remark days after a deadly border clash with Afghanistan’s Taliban government, following which it closed the Attari-Wagah border route, crucial for trade between India and Kabul. Worth noting here is that Munir’s remarks highlight Islamabad’s growing insecurity over India-Afghanistan ties.
Earlier this month, Pakistan conducted air strikes in Kabul, clashing with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s 6-day visit to New Delhi. Following the strikes, Kabul retaliated and a fighting broke out along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. In its response after the Pak strikes, Taliban attacked Pakistan’s border posts, leading to several days of heavy fighting and many deaths.
What is Fitna al-Khawarji”?
Fitna al-Khawarij is a name Pakistan uses for fighters from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan that Islamabad has banned. In May 2025, Islamabad labelled all terror groups in Balochistan as ‘Fitna al-Hindustan,’ a loose term alleging India in planning to cause unrest, possibly to rally support at home.
The country that once sheltered Osama Bin Laden, its army chief said, “Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region, but any breach of its borders, direct or indirect, will be met with a strong and clear response to protect its people.” He noted that all needed steps are being taken to go after these terrorists and clear the province of this threat.
In his speech, Pakistan Army chief Munir even described Balochistan as the ‘pride of Pakistan.’
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, which both share an open border with Afghanistan, suffered most from the terror attacks, making up over 96% of the country’s total violence. Balochistan, according to a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), saw at least 25% of the total deaths (230) and incidents (85) linked to violence.