Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hinted on Wednesday at the possibility of launching a counter-terrorism operation targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, signaling a bold escalation in Islamabad’s fight against cross-border militancy.
Speaking to the press, Asif underscored Pakistan’s resolve to pursue threats to its security wherever they emerge, stating, “If we have to go after Pakistan’s enemies in any country, we will do so.” The remarks follow a high-level meeting on Tuesday between Pakistan’s political and military leadership, where a consensus emerged to eradicate terrorism in all its forms.
Asif pointed the finger at Afghanistan’s Taliban government, accusing it of harboring groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan blames for a surge in attacks on its soil.
“The Afghan government is supporting terror outfits that provide safe havens to hostile elements,” he said, echoing Islamabad’s longstanding claim that anti-Pakistan militants operate freely across the border. The minister’s comments come amid heightened tensions, exacerbated by incidents like the recent Jaffar Express train hijacking in Balochistan, which Pakistani officials allege was coordinated from Afghan territory.
Pakistan has a history of striking alleged TTP targets inside Afghanistan, including airstrikes in December 2024 that hit Paktika province, near South Waziristan. Those raids, which Pakistan claimed killed terrorists, drew sharp rebuke from the Afghan Taliban, who reported 46 civilian deaths, including women and children.
Asif’s latest statement suggests Islamabad may be gearing up for more such operations, framing them as a matter of national survival. “This is about Pakistan’s security, not friendship,” he said, hinting at a policy of “hot pursuit” against militants.
The timing aligns with a grim milestone: Pakistan ranks second globally in terrorism impact, per the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, with attacks doubling to over 1,000 in 2024 and deaths spiking 45% to 1,081. The TTP, emboldened since the Afghan Taliban’s 2021 takeover, remains a key culprit.
Tuesday’s security meeting, attended by top brass, vowed an “iron hand” against such groups, raising speculation of imminent action.
Afghanistan’s response has been defiant, with officials denying they shelter terrorists and warning of retaliation. As Pakistan weighs crossing the Durand Line again, the move risks inflaming an already volatile relationship.