KABUL/ISLAMABAD — Afghan officials on Tuesday issued a strong warning toPakistan, declaring that any attack on Afghan territory would be met withan immediate and forceful response. The statement marks a sharp escalationin rhetoric amid deteriorating relations between the two neighboringcountries.
According to Afghan authorities, Kabul has “put Islamabad on notice,”emphasizing that any Pakistani strike across the border would invite directretaliation against Pakistani targets. The warning follows a failed roundof peace talks in Istanbul, which ended without progress, leaving bothcapitals increasingly on edge.
The tensions intensified after a recent passing-out parade of Afghanfighters, where participants reportedly chanted provocative verses callingfor attacks on Pakistani cities. The incident sparked outrage in Islamabadand fueled growing fears of a regional security crisis.
Adding to the strain, a recent wave of cross-border incidents and a deadlyblast in Islamabad have pushed Pakistan into a state of high alert.Officials in both countries have traded accusations of harboring militantgroups, with little sign of diplomatic resolution in sight.
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Regional observers caution that the combination of failed diplomacy,inflammatory rhetoric, and heightened military readiness could push the twonations toward a dangerous confrontation. Analysts warn that without urgentdialogue and restraint, South Asia may be headed toward one of its mostserious cross-border crises in years.