Khawaja Asif warns Afghanistan after Islamabad suicide blast kills 12, says Pakistan ‘in a state of war’

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif - File Photo

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a fiery warning to Afghanistan, claiming that Islamabad is “in a state of war” and will respond “in the same coin” to any cross-border aggression. The statement follows a suicide bombing outside a district court in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and left dozens injured, in what officials describe as one of the capital’s deadliest attacks in years.

Speaking to reporters after the blast in the city’s G-11 sector, Asif directly accused the Afghan Taliban regime of allowing terror outfits to operate freely on its soil. “If acts of terrorism are being planned and executed from Afghan soil, then they will have to be answered in the same coin,” he said, warning that cross-border strikes were now a real possibility.

A new low in Pak-Afghan ties

The attack, claimed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has sharply escalated tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The TTP, which maintains ideological and operational links with the Afghan Taliban, has intensified its insurgency in Pakistan since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.

Asif’s remarks reflect the growing frustration within Islamabad’s security establishment, which has been unable to contain the surge in militant violence despite repeated claims of successful operations. Pakistan’s once-vaunted counterterrorism strategy now appears to be failing, with militants striking deep inside major cities.

Following the bombing, Asif chaired an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee, calling the incident “a wake-up call for the entire nation.” He added, “Pakistan has exercised restraint for far too long. If our neighbour continues to turn a blind eye, targeted action across the border is inevitable.”

His statements have been widely interpreted as an attempt to shift blame abroad rather than confront Pakistan’s own long-standing policy failures. For years, Islamabad has been accused of nurturing militant groups for strategic depth, only to now face the consequences of that same policy turning inward.

The attack and its aftermath

According to security officials, the explosion occurred when a car laden with explosives detonated near the court’s parking area, moments before peak business hours. The blast destroyed nearby vehicles and shattered windows, sending panic through the capital.

Rescue teams rushed to the site as police cordoned off the area and emergency alerts were issued in Islamabad. Hospitals reported multiple critical injuries, with several victims succumbing later in the day.

Interior Ministry officials have now placed major Pakistani cities on high alert and intensified surveillance along the Durand Line, the disputed border with Afghanistan. Intelligence sources told local media that communications traced after the attack link several suspects to Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, known safe havens for the TTP.

Kabul denies role, urges dialogue

Afghan officials have rejected Pakistan’s accusations, insisting that their government does not permit cross-border militancy. Kabul has urged Islamabad to pursue diplomatic engagement rather than military threats.

However, the Pakistani government appears intent on confrontation, using nationalist rhetoric to deflect domestic anger over its deteriorating security situation. For Islamabad’s civilian and military leadership, the bombing has become a rallying point to justify tougher measures and potential cross-border strikes.

A crisis of Pakistan’s own making

Pakistan’s leadership continues to portray itself as the victim of external aggression, even as its own past patronage of extremist elements undermines its credibility. Analysts argue that the TTP’s resurgence is not merely a product of Afghan sanctuary but also a consequence of Pakistan’s internal dysfunction and failure to reform its counterterrorism institutions.

Despite the tough talk, Islamabad’s options remain limited. Direct strikes inside Afghanistan risk igniting a wider conflict that Pakistan’s struggling economy and fractured politics can hardly sustain.

Still, Asif’s words underline the government’s desperation. “We cannot afford to let anyone exploit our borders again,” he declared. “This is now a fight for Pakistan’s survival.”