Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned Tuesday that his country could carry out military action inside Afghanistan following a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 others.
Asif accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring militants responsible for attacks in Pakistan and rejected their condemnation of the bombing as “insincere and meaningless.”
He stressed that Pakistan will not leave what he called aggression unanswered. Asif told Geo News after the attack, which occurred in the parking area of the G-11 district court in the capital, that a firm and decisive response will follow.
Pakistani authorities quickly blamed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), India, and the Afghan Taliban for the assault. The Afghan Taliban’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, but Asif said the statement “does not reflect reality,” claiming the group continues to shelter militants targeting Pakistan.
The defence minister said Islamabad would present evidence of Afghanistan’s involvement in recent incidents to mediators including Qatar and Turkiye.
Asif also alleged that India was carrying out attacks on Pakistan “through Afghan territory,” an accusation the Indian Ministry of External Affairs rejected as baseless. He added that there were no terrorist sanctuaries inside Pakistan and claimed most recent attacks were carried out by Afghan nationals.
He further accused the Afghan Taliban of adopting a “hostile stance” toward Pakistan and said Islamabad had lost confidence in their assurances.
Asif also claimed that terrorists were receiving financial support from Indian consulates in Afghanistan, though he provided no evidence. He said Pakistan would use “all diplomatic options” to manage the situation with Kabul.
The Islamabad bombing came shortly after peace talks between Pakistani and Taliban officials in Istanbul collapsed. Pakistan had reportedly sought written guarantees from the Taliban to stop cross-border militant attacks.
Taliban Foreign Ministry said the Pakistani delegation had asked for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters to be relocated inside Afghanistan a request it rejected, saying, “We are not foolish enough to take on Pakistan’s burden.”
