The Taliban’s Ministry of Interior warned Tuesday that any attack by Pakistan would be met with a “decisive and powerful response,” describing it as a “lesson for Pakistan and a warning for others.”
Abdul Matin Qane, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Interior Ministry, told Afghanistan’s Ariana News that “the Taliban have never bowed to any force.”
His comments followed a warning from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who said an “open war” could erupt if the ongoing peace talks between Islamabad and the Taliban failed to produce an agreement.
Negotiations between the two sides in Istanbul ended Monday after three days without any breakthrough. Pakistan has demanded that the Taliban take “specific and verifiable” action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said it had formally presented its position during the discussions.
The Taliban have repeatedly asserted their right to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, while Islamabad insists that halting cross-border attacks and creating a monitoring mechanism to prevent Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan are key to any lasting settlement.
