Key Points
- Islamabad holds Afghan-based terrorists responsible for orchestrating attacks inside Pakistan.
- Kabul’s condemnation must be followed by concrete action.
- Pakistan rejected threats of a “crushing response” from Kabul.
- Islamabad said it would protect its sovereignty under international law.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the deadly terrorist attack on civilians and police officials offering Friday prayers in Kohat — around 65 kilometres southwest of Peshawar — demanding the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against terrorist networks on its soil.
In a statement posted on X, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting described the attackers as the “vilest of Khwarij” and said the assault demonstrated that terrorism had no religion or justification.
The ministry said Pakistan had repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors over the use of Afghan territory by Fitna al-Khawarij and other terrorist groups to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on civilians and Police officials offering Juma prayers in Kohat. The attack, perpetrated by the vilest of Khwarij with roots in Afghanistan, reminds us that terrorism has no religion and no justification. Those who perpetrate,…
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) September 19, 2026
According to Islamabad, terrorist sanctuaries, recruitment networks and support infrastructure operating in Afghanistan represented a direct security threat to Pakistan.
Pakistan said the Afghan Taliban had been repeatedly asked to dismantle such networks instead of deflecting responsibility.
Afghan Taliban response
The statement also criticised Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid for threatening Pakistan with a “crushing response”. Islamabad accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to address the “terrorist ecosystem” operating under their patronage.
Pakistan further invoked the Doha Agreement, saying the Afghan Taliban had counterterrorism obligations and a responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used to threaten other countries.
The ministry said Pakistan had taken note of the Afghan Foreign Ministry’s condemnation of the Kohat attack and its expression of sympathy for the victims’ families.
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However, Islamabad criticised Kabul for not explicitly mentioning terrorism in its statement.
“Condemnation must be matched by concrete action,” Pakistan said, demanding credible, verifiable and sustained measures against terrorist sanctuaries, recruitment and training networks.
Dialogue under pressure
Pakistan said it had consistently pursued dialogue and constructive engagement with the Afghan Taliban but would not allow a pretence of dialogue to shield groups threatening its people.
The ministry said Pakistan possessed both the “will and capability” to eliminate terrorist threats and would take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty.
Islamabad also warned that continued terrorist activity in Afghanistan could contribute to wider regional instability and urged the international community to press the Afghan Taliban to take decisive and verifiable counterterrorism measures.
