Islamabad: Defense Minister Khawaja Asif issued a sharp warning to the Afghan Taliban regime on Wednesday following the conclusion of four-day talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul, which ended without any progress.
In a strong message shared on X, Asif expressed Pakistan’s growing frustration over repeated attempts at dialogue that have failed to yield results.
He pointed out that Pakistan had entered the discussions at the behest of “brotherly countries” with the hope of achieving peace. However, he condemned what he perceived as “venomous statements” from certain Afghan officials, describing them as a reflection of the fractured mindset within the Taliban leadership.
Pakistan has endured your duplicity and disrespect for far too long, but this will no longer be tolerated. Any terrorist attack or suicide bombing within Pakistan will result in harsh repercussions, declared Asif, advising the Taliban regime to test Pakistan’s resolve and capabilities at their own peril.
He went on to assert that Pakistan does not require even a fraction of its military strength to completely dismantle the Taliban regime and drive them back into hiding. A repeat of their defeat at Tora Bora would certainly be a spectacle for the region to witness, he added.
Asif’s remarks followed Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar’s earlier confirmation that the Istanbul negotiations had ended without any breakthroughs. Tarar highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding efforts to seek Kabul’s cooperation in addressing militant activities originating from Afghan soil but lamented that the talks had failed to produce a viable solution.
The minister expressed gratitude towards Qatar, Turkiye, and other nations that had facilitated the discussions, commending their efforts despite the lack of tangible outcomes. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism but noted that the dialogue yielded no workable resolution.
Asif did not mince words in his criticism of the Taliban, accusing them of recklessly driving Afghanistan towards another unnecessary conflict to maintain their illicit grip on power while sustaining a destructive war economy. He argued that despite being fully aware of their limitations, the Taliban were deliberately heightening tensions to mask their waning authority.
The Taliban regime is relentlessly dragging Afghanistan and its innocent people into ruin once again, Asif stated. He further cautioned the Taliban against underestimating Pakistan’s determination and strength. Should they choose conflict with us, the world will, Inshallah, witness their threats reduced to nothing more than an empty spectacle, he concluded.
