Khawaja Asif warns Kabul after Islamabad suicide attack
“Khawaja Asif vowed a robust response to cross-border terrorism after the Islamabad blast.”
Key points
- Khawaja Asif vowed a robust response to cross-border terrorism after the Islamabad blast.
- He called the situation a state of war and pressed Kabul to curb militants operating from Afghan soil.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan is fully capable of responding decisively to cross-border terrorism, blaming Afghan-based elements for letting violence spill into the capital. His remarks followed a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed at least a dozen people.
Asif described the situation as a state of war, urging a united national response and cautioning that negotiations with Kabul were unlikely to succeed under current conditions. He referenced the bomber's attempt to enter a district court compound before detonating near a police vehicle and stressed that the state would answer force with force while protecting the public.
The minister linked the attack to a broader surge in militancy since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, noting recent border clashes and a fragile ceasefire. He reiterated Pakistan's demand that the Afghan authorities prevent their territory from being used by groups targeting Pakistan.
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