Pakistan Capable of Befitting Response as Kabul Brings Terror to Islamabad: Asif
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stern warning to the Afghan Taliban regime, saying Pakistan will deliver a strong and proportionate response to any act of cross-border aggression. His remarks came hours after a deadly suicide blast in Islamabad left 12 people dead and over 30 injured.
Deadly Blast Rocks Federal Capital
According to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the attack occurred around 12:39 pm on Tuesday when a suicide bomber targeted a police vehicle after failing to enter the District and Sessions Court premises. The powerful explosion shattered windows and caused panic across nearby areas.
Naqvi confirmed that rescue teams and bomb disposal units reached the site immediately, while security forces cordoned off the entire area to prevent further incidents.
“We Are in a State of War,” Says Asif
Reacting strongly to the assault, Khawaja Asif declared that Pakistan is in a state of war against terrorism and its sponsors. “Anyone who believes this war is limited to border areas should take the suicide attack in Islamabad as a wake-up call,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He emphasized that the fight against militancy is a national war and not confined to military operations in the tribal belt or Balochistan. “The armed forces are providing the nation with a sense of security through their sacrifices,” Asif said.https://x.com/KhawajaMAsif/status/1988174246284324989?s=20
Tensions Rise with Afghanistan
The Defence Minister accused Kabul of turning a blind eye to militant activities targeting Pakistan. “The Kabul leadership can stop terrorism in Pakistan, but bringing this war to Islamabad carries a message from Kabul,” he stated.
Asif further revealed that Pakistani intelligence had already anticipated such an attack as a pressure tactic amid stalled talks between Islamabad and the Taliban government. “The assault shows that all our areas are within the terrorists’ reach,” he said while speaking to journalists in the federal capital.
Pakistan Vows Strong Retaliation
The Defence Minister assured that Pakistan will respond firmly to any act of aggression, whether in border regions or urban centres. “We will not tolerate terrorism anywhere. Our response will be decisive,” he stressed.
Officials added that the latest assault in Islamabad marks the first suicide attack in the city since 2022, but militant activity has sharply increased in other parts of the country — particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
Escalating Border Tensions
Cross-border attacks from Afghanistan have intensified in recent months, leading to heavy clashes between security forces on both sides. Last month, Pakistan’s military launched retaliatory strikes that killed over 200 militants linked to Afghan-based groups and India-backed networks after unprovoked firing incidents.
Though both countries later agreed to a fragile ceasefire, several rounds of negotiations failed to produce lasting results. Talks between Islamabad and Kabul broke down completely last week.
Call for Responsible Action by Kabul
Pakistan has consistently urged the Taliban regime to prevent Afghan soil from being used as a safe haven for militant groups. Officials say these sanctuaries enable attackers to plan and launch operations inside Pakistan with impunity.
“The onus lies on Kabul to take responsibility,” Asif remarked. “Dialogue alone cannot succeed if violence continues.”
A Warning and a Wake-Up Call
The Islamabad blast has served as a grim reminder of Pakistan’s ongoing struggle against militancy. Asif’s statement reflects growing frustration within Islamabad over the Afghan Taliban’s failure to curb cross-border threats.
Observers note that the government now appears more determined than ever to pursue a comprehensive counter-terror strategy, both diplomatically and militarily.
