Afghanistan, Feb. 19 -- Pakistan's defense minister says Islamabad has lost influence in Afghanistan to wealthier regional states, citing strained ties and growing security tensions.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan has lost its traditional sphere of influence in Afghanistan to regional countries including Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and China.
In an interview with Germany's Deutsche Welle, published Wednesday, Asif attributed the shift to economic realities, saying, "They can spend money, and we cannot."
Pakistan has long been a key player in Afghanistan due to its shared border and past support for the mujahideen and later the Taliban against previous Afghanistan governments.
Pakistan once again warned it could lau...