ISLAMABAD: In a provocative escalation of cross-border hostilities, asenior Taliban spokesperson in Kabul has openly declared intentions todispatch 4,000 suicide bombers into Pakistan, a statement that hascrystallized long-standing suspicions of the Afghan government’s deepinvolvement in terrorism. This audacious announcement, made on Friday,follows a spate of deadly attacks claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan(TTP), including twin suicide bombings in Islamabad that killed 12 peopleearlier this week. Pakistani officials, including the Foreign Ministry,have condemned the rhetoric as an act of war, vowing robust countermeasuresto safeguard national security. The revelation has ignited diplomatic fury,with Islamabad summoning the Afghan charge d’affaires and mobilizing borderforces along the volatile Durand Line. Analysts warn that such overtthreats could unravel fragile peace efforts and draw in regional powers,exacerbating instability in South Asia.
The Taliban’s brazen pledge arrives amid mounting evidence linking Afghansoil to TTP operations. Intelligence reports indicate that several recentsuicide bombers were Afghan nationals, trained in camps near the porousborder. Pakistan’s military has intensified airstrikes on suspectedmilitant hideouts in Afghanistan, prompting retaliatory fire from Talibanforces. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the nation, asserting thatKabul’s refusal to dismantle TTP sanctuaries constitutes state-sponsoredterrorism. “This is not mere saber-rattling; it is a declaration ofenmity,” Sharif stated, urging international intervention from the UnitedNations and Quad nations. Human rights groups have expressed alarm overcivilian casualties from cross-border skirmishes, calling for de-escalationtalks. Economically, the threats have disrupted trade routes, with truckingconvoys halted and markets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reeling from supplyshortages.
Regional experts view the announcement as a desperate bid by the Taliban toconsolidate domestic support amid internal dissent and economic woes inAfghanistan. The regime, facing sanctions and humanitarian crises, appearsto be leveraging anti-Pakistan sentiment to rally hardliners. However, thisstrategy risks isolating Kabul further, as even erstwhile allies like Chinahave urged restraint. Pakistan’s defense analysts predict a surge inasymmetric warfare, with TTP affiliates potentially exploiting urbanvulnerabilities. In response, Islamabad is bolstering intelligence-sharingwith allies and fortifying counter-terrorism units. The internationalcommunity, including the United States, has reiterated calls for theTaliban to honor counter-terrorism commitments under the Doha Agreement. Aswinter sets in, the specter of intensified conflict looms large,threatening to displace thousands along the frontier.
Diplomatic channels remain open but strained, with backchannel talksmediated by Qatar showing little progress. Pakistan’s envoy to Kabul hasbeen recalled for consultations, signaling a potential downgrade inrelations. Security experts emphasize the need for verifiable actions overrhetoric, including joint border patrols and extradition of TTP leaders.The unfolding crisis underscores the fragility of post-2021Afghanistan-Pakistan dynamics, where unresolved grievances from the Sovietera persist. As Islamabad braces for reprisals, the global focus shifts topreventing a broader conflagration that could engulf Central and South Asia.
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Source:www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/explosion-injures-eight-outside-court-pakistans-capital-police-say-2025-11-11/”>https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/explosion-injures-eight-outside-court-pakistans-capital-police-say-2025-11-11/