Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan after the latest round of peace talks in Turkey collapsed without any breakthrough on Tuesday. The sharp escalation in rhetoric came from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who claimed that Islamabad would not need to use even a fraction of its military strength to “completely obliterate the Taliban regime” if provocations continued.
Pakistan’s warning to Kabul
Speaking to the media after the failed talks, Asif invoked Pakistan’s defence capabilities, saying the Taliban risked a repeat of their 2001 defeat at Tora Bora.
“Let me assure them that Pakistan does not require to employ even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime and push them back to the caves for hiding,” Asif said, as quoted by Dawn.
He added that any further acts of cross-border aggression would invite a firm response:
“Any terrorist attack or suicide bombing inside Pakistan shall give you the bitter taste of such misadventures. Be rest assured and test our resolve and capabilities, if you wish so, at your own peril and doom.”
The comments followed the failure of Turkey-mediated peace talks between Islamabad and Kabul, which ended without agreement despite high-level diplomatic efforts by Qatar and Ankara.
Afghan accusations and Pakistan’s defence
The Taliban administration in Kabul has accused Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and allowing US drone operations from its territory, claims that Islamabad strongly denies. According to Tolo News, Afghan representatives blamed Pakistan for refusing to halt such activities during the Istanbul talks.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the negotiations failed due to Kabul’s “lack of seriousness”.
“Regrettably, the Afghan side gave no assurances, kept deviating from the core issue and resorted to blame game, deflection and ruses,” Tarar said in a post on X, quoted by AFP.
He confirmed that the dialogue had “failed to bring about any workable solution.”
Taliban’s counter-response
Though there has been no official statement from the Taliban government, Afghan media quoted Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, who criticised Pakistan’s stance.
“Pakistan and other countries use the label of terrorism for political purposes against their opponents,” Mujahid said.
Sources told Tolo News that Pakistan’s delegation had pressed the Taliban to formally classify the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist organisation and act against its leadership. However, Afghan negotiators reportedly refused to commit, calling the demand “politically motivated”.
A Pakistani security source told AFP that Kabul’s representatives initially agreed to act against the TTP but later backtracked under instructions from senior Taliban leadership.
Violence and border tensions escalate
The renewed diplomatic rift comes in the wake of deadly explosions in Kabul on October 9, which left more than 70 people dead and hundreds injured. Taliban authorities have blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the attacks — an allegation Islamabad categorically denies.
Following the blasts, cross-border violence flared along the Durand Line, with Taliban fighters launching assaults on Pakistani outposts. Pakistan retaliated with targeted airstrikes inside Afghan territory, killing several militants.
A 48-hour ceasefire, brokered by Qatar and Turkey, collapsed within days, before a fresh temporary truce was reached in Doha on October 19. However, tensions remain high, with the Chaman–Spin Boldak border still closed for over two weeks, stranding goods and disrupting trade.
Strategic implications for South Asia
The breakdown of talks marks a serious setback for regional stability. Analysts say that continued mistrust between Islamabad and Kabul could lead to escalating border clashes and deepen the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The closure of key border points has already resulted in losses worth several crore rupees for traders on both sides. Experts warn that any further deterioration could push displaced Afghan families into Pakistan, straining local resources amid ongoing deportations of undocumented migrants.
Conclusion
The failure of the Istanbul peace talks highlights the fragile state of Pakistan–Afghanistan relations. While both countries accuse each other of harbouring militants, diplomatic engagement remains the only viable path to prevent a new wave of conflict in the region.
For now, Pakistan’s stern warning and the Taliban’s defiant posture signal that peace remains elusive, with tensions likely to persist along one of South Asia’s most volatile borders.