Pakistan warns Afghanistan after Kohat attack, says it can eliminate terror threats ‘wherever they are’

In a veiled warning to Afghanistan following the deadly terrorist attack in Kohat, Pakistan on Saturday said it had the “will and capability” to eliminate terror threats “wherever they are” and urged the international community to press the Afghan Taliban regime to take decisive action against terrorism.

The warning came a day after at least 21 people, including 15 police officials, were martyred in a terrorist attack at Kohat Police Lines during Friday prayers. According to the statement provided by the Ministry of Information, an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a mosque, followed by terrorists storming the compound and attacking police facilities.

The Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP), led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing and rampage involving multiple attackers. Islamabad has repeatedly asked the Taliban regime to deny the use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. However, the de facto rulers in Kabul have been reluctant to take action against terrorist groups operating from their territory.

“We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on civilians and police officials offering Juma prayers in Kohat,” the Ministry of Information said in a post on X.

It said the attack, which it attributed to “the vilest of Khwarij with roots in Afghanistan”, was a reminder that “terrorism has no religion and no justification”.

“Those who perpetrate, facilitate or shelter such acts are the worst among humankind,” it added.

Pakistan said it had repeatedly raised “grave concerns” over the alleged use of Afghan territory by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other terrorist groups to plan and launch attacks inside the country.

“The presence of terrorist sanctuaries, alongside their recruitment and support infrastructure in Afghanistan, poses a direct threat to Pakistan’s security,” the statement said.

It said these concerns had repeatedly been conveyed to the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors.

“They must dismantle these networks rather than deflect responsibility,” Pakistan said.

Read: Kohat Police Lines blast death toll rises to 23 as clearance operation concludes

The statement made clear that it considered itself capable of responding to terrorist threats irrespective of their location.

“Pakistan has both the will and the capability to eliminate terrorist threats wherever they are,” it said, adding that Islamabad would take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty.

The ministry also warned of wider consequences from the continued presence and activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

“Pakistan has repeatedly warned that the continued presence and activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan will aggravate instability, with serious regional and global repercussions,” it said.

The government also called on the international community to push the Afghan Taliban regime to take action against terrorism.

“The international community should push the Afghan Taliban regime to act decisively and verifiably to counter this menace before the threat spreads further across the region and beyond,” it said.

Pakistan said it had taken note of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ condemnation of the Kohat attack and its expression of sympathy for the victims’ families, but pointed out that the Afghan statement did not mention terrorism.

Read More: Pakistan vows response to Afghan-based terrorism in self-defence ‘as and when needed’

“Notwithstanding, condemnation must be matched by concrete action,” Pakistan said.

It called on the Afghan Taliban to take “credible, verifiable and sustained measures” to dismantle what it described as terrorist sanctuaries, disrupt recruitment and training networks, and prevent terrorist groups from planning, facilitating or launching attacks against Pakistan.

“Pakistan has consistently pursued dialogue and constructive engagement with the Afghan Taliban, but we would not allow pretence of dialogue to shield those who threaten our people,” the statement said.

The ministry also criticised Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid for warning Pakistan against military action, saying it was “reprehensible” that he had threatened Pakistan with a “crushing response”.

“The Afghan Taliban must address the terrorist ecosystem thriving under their patronage instead of trying to deflect responsibility and malign Pakistan,” it said.

“Such antics cannot obscure their counterterrorism obligations under the Doha Agreement or their responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used to threaten other countries,” Pakistan added.

In an interview with Al Arabiya English earlier, Mujahid had warned Pakistan against carrying out military operations inside Afghanistan and called for dialogue and stronger intelligence mechanisms between the two countries.

“If Pakistan invokes Article 51 to violate the sanctity of Afghan territory, Afghanistan has the right to defend its country, and we will do so,” he said, warning of a “crushing response” to any violation of Afghan sovereignty.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated over the last year amid mutual accusations over cross-border militancy. Islamabad has long maintained that terrorists linked to the TTP operate from Afghan territory, while Kabul has denied the allegations and accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty through alleged strikes.

Pakistan has maintained that meaningful engagement with the Taliban government cannot resume unless Kabul takes concrete and verifiable action against banned terrorist groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad says operates from Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

The issue of terrorist sanctuaries remains the central source of friction between the two countries. Islamabad has repeatedly conveyed to Kabul that assurances alone are insufficient and that Pakistan wants to see demonstrable action against groups it considers responsible for attacks on its territory.

The Pakistani position also extends to other terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

The deterioration in bilateral ties, particularly over the TTP issue, has significantly narrowed the space for diplomatic initiatives.

Pakistan appears to be keeping diplomatic channels and limited institutional contacts open while refusing to resume substantive engagement with Kabul until it sees concrete and verifiable action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

Officials insist that any future policy change would depend primarily on developments on the ground rather than isolated diplomatic or academic interactions.