Pakistan’s defence minister has said the country may take action against militants in Afghanistan before the start of Ramadan, warning that delays in addressing security threats would carry serious consequences.
Khawaja Asif told ARY News that some level of contact with the Taliban in Afghanistan was continuing, but militant activity from Afghan territory had not subsided.
He said that if authorities on the other side of the border remained passive observers, responsibility for the consequences would lie with them.
Asif added that Pakistan still preferred dialogue but could not accept a situation in which attacks were carried out on its territory after negotiations.
The defence minister said Taliban officials had acknowledged they could not provide written guarantees on security matters and could only offer verbal assurances.
His remarks come amid a rise in militant attacks in Pakistan.
In one of the latest incidents, a suicide bombing targeted a Shia mosque in the Pakistani capital during Friday prayers, killing at least 31 people and wounding 169 others.
Following the attack, Asif said the attacker had travelled back and forth to Afghanistan.
