Pakistan says ‘all options’ remain on table against Taliban

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has warned that “all options” remain available in dealing with the Taliban, including possible military action, as tensions between the two sides escalate.

Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad on Thursday, the ministry’s spokesman, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said the Taliban have failed to meet what Pakistan describes as their international obligations, including preventing Afghanistan’s territory from being used to launch attacks against Pakistan.

“As long as our security concerns are not addressed, while we exercise patience, it is obvious that all options will remain on the table,” the spokesman said. “We cannot allow our people to be killed relentlessly and ruthlessly.” He added that any action taken by Pakistan would fall under its right to self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and would aim to protect civilians and security forces.

Pakistan has repeatedly said that militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are operating from Afghanistan’s territory. Taliban officials have denied allowing any group to use Afghanistan as a base for attacks against other countries.

Earlier, Pakistan’s defense minister also warned that the country could carry out military strikes inside Afghanistan to eliminate what he called terrorist threats, though he provided no details.

The Taliban have not responded to the latest remarks. In the past, however, they have said they would respond decisively to any cross-border military action.

This comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban. While Pakistan says it has held multiple rounds of talks with Taliban representatives in Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh to ease tensions, those discussions have not produced a breakthrough, particularly over Islamabad’s demand that Taliban curb the activities of the TTP.

The diplomatic strain has also had economic consequences. For nearly four months, key transit crossings between the two countries have remained closed, disrupting trade and causing significant financial losses on both sides.

Pakistan has also alleged that India is supporting instability along its western border, a claim New Delhi has denied.