‘We’re In State Of War’: Pakistan Warns Taliban Of Cross-Border Strikes After Islamabad Bombing

Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 2:05 PM IST

Defence minister Khawaja Asif accused the Afghan Taliban regime of allowing terror groups to operate freely from its territory

Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stark warning to Afghanistan, declaring that Islamabad was “in a state of war” and would respond decisively to any aggression after a suicide bombing in the capital killed at least 12 people.

Speaking after the attack outside a district court in Islamabad’s G-11 sector, Asif accused the Afghan Taliban regime of allowing terror groups to operate freely from its territory. “If acts of terrorism are being planned and executed from Afghan soil, then they will have to be answered in the same coin,” he said, signalling that cross-border military action was now on the table.

The comments mark a sharp escalation in tensions between the two neighbours, coming just hours after the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group with links to the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the bombing. The attack, one of the deadliest in the capital in years, has shaken Pakistan’s security establishment and reignited debate over its faltering counterterrorism strategy.

Officials say the explosion, caused by a car packed with explosives near the court’s parking area, was timed to inflict maximum casualties. Security forces later cordoned off the site as emergency crews rushed victims to hospitals.

Following the incident, Asif convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee, describing the blast as “a wake-up call for the entire nation”. He stressed that the government’s patience had run out with what he called Kabul’s inaction against militant sanctuaries.

“Pakistan has exercised restraint for far too long. If our neighbour continues to turn a blind eye, targeted action across the border is inevitable.”

Islamabad has long accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP fighters who have regrouped and intensified attacks inside Pakistan since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021. Afghan officials, meanwhile, have denied the allegations, urging Pakistan to seek dialogue rather than confrontation.

The Islamabad bombing follows months of rising violence in Pakistan’s northwest, where security forces have come under repeated militant fire.

As the country mourns the victims, the Interior Ministry has placed major cities on high alert and stepped up surveillance along the Durand Line. Intelligence sources confirmed that multiple militant communication channels have been traced back to Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

For Pakistan’s leadership, however, the message is clear: this was not just another terror incident — it was a national security red line. “We cannot afford to let anyone exploit our borders again,” Asif said. “This is now a fight for Pakistan’s survival.”

News Desk

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More

The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More

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