Pakistan Army Chief Warns Taliban: “Choose Between Peace And Chaos”

Pakistan's Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, on Saturday issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, urging Kabul to take immediate and decisive action against terrorists operating from its territory. Munir emphasized that Afghanistan must now "choose between peace and chaos," highlighting the growing concern over militant groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

Warning Amid Fresh Strikes

The warning comes in the wake of Pakistan conducting new air strikes on Friday targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan. These strikes followed a gun-and-bomb attack on a military installation in North Waziristan, claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Notably, these strikes were carried out just hours after Islamabad and Kabul had extended a two-day ceasefire aimed at temporarily halting hostilities.

Addressing a graduation ceremony for passing out cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Munir stressed that the Taliban regime must act decisively against militants operating from Afghan soil. He warned that all proxies using Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan would face a forceful response, vowing to "raise them to dust."

Tensions Between Islamabad and Kabul

The renewed strikes coincide with planned diplomatic engagement, as representatives from Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to meet in Doha, where Qatar is mediating between the two sides. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban government to stop terrorist groups from exploiting Afghan territory for cross-border attacks. Kabul, however, denies such allegations, asserting that Afghan soil is not being used against neighboring countries.

The situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has deteriorated due to repeated attacks by the banned TTP, allegedly operating from Afghan soil. One recent attack in Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claimed the lives of 11 military personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, escalating tensions further along the border.