Pakistan signals tough military response if Taliban threaten security

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered a stark warning to the Taliban following four days of fruitless negotiations in Istanbul, asserting that Islamabad could “completely obliterate” the Afghan regime without even employing a fraction of its military capabilities if provoked.

In a post on X, Asif said Pakistan had entered the talks “on the request of brotherly countries” to give peace a chance. However, he accused Afghan officials of responding with “venomous statements” that exposed a “devious and splintered mindset” within the Taliban leadership, Samaa TV reports.

“The central message is clear: Pakistan’s military capability is overwhelming, and our restraint is deliberate, not a sign of weakness,” Asif wrote. “Let me assure them that Pakistan does not require to employ even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime.”

Referencing historical precedents, Asif suggested a repeat of the Taliban’s defeat at Tora Bora would be “a spectacle to watch” should conflict resume. He accused the Taliban of sustaining a “war economy” and “blindly pushing Afghanistan into yet another conflict” to preserve their rule.

Asif framed Pakistan’s patience as exhausted, warning that those who “test our resolve and capabilities” do so “at their own peril and doom.” He further stressed that any terrorist acts or suicide bombings inside Pakistan would be met with a severe response.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the October 2025 Istanbul negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Türkiye, concluded without tangible results. Pakistan presented “actionable and concrete evidence” of activities by India-backed terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, but the Afghan delegation allegedly “avoided making any actionable assurances.”

“While the evidence was acknowledged by all parties, including the host countries, Kabul declined to give practical commitments,” Tarar said, accusing the Taliban of resorting to “accusations, evasions, and cunning excuses” that stalled progress.

Pakistan has repeatedly voiced concerns over cross-border operations by groups it describes as India-backed, citing organizations such as Fitna-ul-Khawarij (TTP) and Fitna-ul-Hindustan (BLA). Islamabad framed the Istanbul discussions as focused exclusively on preventing Afghan soil from being used as a base for attacks against Pakistan — a demand the Afghan delegation reportedly failed to concretely accept.

By Vafa Guliyeva