Pakistan Warns Afghanistan After Terror Attacks: “Will Pay Back in the Same Coin,” Says Khawaja Asif

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has issued a stark warning to both Afghanistan and India, declaring that the country will “pay back in the same coin” following two major terrorist attacks in the past 48 hours — one at a cadet college in South Waziristan and another in Islamabad’s judicial complex.

Speaking to Geo News, Asif accused the Afghan Taliban regime of harbouring militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and hinted that cross-border strikes could follow if such attacks continue.

“Pakistan will never initiate any military adventure,” Asif said. “But we will not let any act of aggression go unanswered. We will respond forcefully.”

‘State of War’: Pakistan Blames Afghan Regime for Shelter to Terrorists

Khawaja Asif’s comments come amid escalating violence and growing instability within Pakistan. The Defence Minister said the Afghan Taliban’s public condemnations of terrorism “cannot be taken as proof of sincerity”, accusing Kabul of providing sanctuary to groups attacking Pakistani forces and civilians.

“Those sheltered by the Afghan Taliban are repeatedly attacking us,” he said, adding that Pakistan could not rule out “cross-border action inside Afghanistan.”

Hours earlier, Asif posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Pakistan was “in a state of war,” calling the Islamabad suicide attack a “wake-up call” for those believing terrorism was confined to border regions.

“Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan Army is fighting this war only along the Afghan border or in Balochistan should look at the Islamabad blast,” he wrote.

Twin Terror Attacks in 48 Hours

Pakistan has been rocked by two major attacks within two days — signaling what security experts describe as a “resurgence of urban terrorism.”

1. Cadet College Wana Attack (South Waziristan)

   • A heavily armed group of militants targeted the military-linked institution near the Afghan border on Monday.

   • Multiple explosions and gunfire were reported, killing at least 10 cadets and injuring several others.

   • The TTP is suspected to be behind the assault.

2. Islamabad District Court Suicide Blast

   • On Tuesday, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near the entrance of Islamabad’s judicial complex.

   • At least 12 people were killed and over 25 injured, most of them lawyers and court staff.

   • The blast, heard up to six kilometres away, triggered chaos across the capital’s high-security zone.

Authorities said the explosion was so powerful that nearby buildings were damaged and emergency services struggled to access the site due to heavy traffic.

PM Shehbaz Sharif Blames India, Points to Afghan Link

In a sharp escalation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directly blamed India for “supporting militants” allegedly operating from Afghan soil.

“Indian-backed militants operating from Afghanistan targeted civilians and children,” Sharif claimed, calling the incidents “attacks from Afghan soil under Indian patronage.”

Sharif offered no evidence to support the claim, but said “no condemnation is enough” for the loss of life.

India has dismissed such accusations as baseless political deflection, noting Pakistan’s longstanding failure to contain domestic militant groups.

Renewed Threat of Strikes Inside Afghanistan

Pakistan’s military leadership has reportedly held multiple meetings since the Islamabad attack, with intelligence suggesting the TTP leadership is regrouping inside eastern Afghanistan.

In response, Asif said Pakistan retains the right to retaliate inside Afghan territory — a statement reminiscent of Islamabad’s air raids earlier this year.

“The rulers of Kabul can stop terrorism in Pakistan, but bringing this war to Islamabad is a message from Kabul,” he said. “Pakistan has the full strength to respond.”

Pakistan’s Airstrikes Deepen Rift with Kabul

This is not the first time Pakistan has crossed the Afghan border.
In mid-October 2025, Pakistan’s Air Force conducted airstrikes in Khost and Paktika provinces, claiming to target TTP hideouts.

The strikes, which killed at least 10 civilians including local athletes, reignited diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Afghan Taliban condemned the raids as a violation of sovereignty, accusing Pakistan of destabilising the region.
Afghanistan expelled several Pakistani diplomats and warned that further incursions would lead to “serious consequences.”

These airstrikes followed a similar campaign in March 2025, suggesting a pattern of unilateral military actions by Pakistan amid domestic terror surges.

‘Kabul Is Dancing to India’s Tune’

During his Geo News interview, Asif alleged that “Kabul is dancing to the rhythm of India as a puppet”, claiming India was attempting to exploit Pakistan’s internal instability.

“Pakistan’s enemies are coordinating,” Asif said, adding that Afghanistan and India “will both face consequences if they continue to provoke Pakistan.”

His remarks reflect growing paranoia within Pakistan’s security establishment, which views India’s regional partnerships — including with Afghanistan and Iran — as a strategic challenge.

Pakistan’s Internal Crisis Intensifies

The dual terror attacks come as Pakistan faces its deepest internal crisis in decades — with political divisions, a collapsing economy, and public discontent over the military’s dominance.

According to Pakistan’s interior ministry, over 1,100 security personnel have been killed in terrorist incidents this year alone. Most attacks are attributed to TTP factions operating from Afghan sanctuaries.

Analysts warn that Pakistan’s retaliatory rhetoric risks sparking a wider border conflict, with both the Afghan Taliban and TTP entrenched across a porous frontier stretching 2,600 kilometres.

“Pakistan’s rhetoric of ‘paying back in the same coin’ may invite a regional blowback that its economy and military can ill afford,” said Dr. Shuja Nawaz, South Asia security expert.

India’s Strategic View

Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring Pakistan’s escalating crisis. Officials in New Delhi believe that Islamabad’s tendency to externalise internal problems — by blaming India — signals desperation amid domestic instability.

“Pakistan is imploding from within,” said an Indian security official. “Every attack exposes the fault lines of a state that has lived too long on the edge of its own creation.”

The Bigger Picture

With Pakistan declaring a “state of war,” accusing Kabul of complicity and New Delhi of conspiracy, the region now faces one of its most volatile moments in recent years.

The combination of terror resurgence, military posturing, and political fragility could ignite fresh conflict along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border — a flashpoint India and the wider international community are watching with caution.

For Pakistan, however, the question remains whether its threats of “payback” can restore control — or simply deepen the cycle of violence it helped create.