Pakistan Sends Deterrent Warning to Taliban by Striking Kabul.
Pakistani security sources say the country’s airstrikes on Kabul sent a clear and unprecedented message to the Afghan Taliban, signaling that Islamabad will no longer confine its operations against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to the Durand Line borders.
According to sources, the targeting of Afghanistan’s capital on October 15, 2025, was not only Pakistan’s first direct strike on Kabul but also significantly reduced terrorist activity within Pakistan.
The Express Tribune reported that Pakistani security officials consider these strikes part of a new deterrence strategy that has forced the Taliban to act cautiously. A knowledgeable official noted that after the attack, signs of concern appeared within Taliban ranks, as they realized Pakistan would not hesitate to target the TTP or any armed group, even inside Kabul.
The newspaper emphasized that the Taliban’s swift denial of involvement in the recent suicide attack in Islamabad was also driven by this concern.
According to the Express Tribune, Pakistan is not worried about the diplomatic consequences of striking deep inside Afghanistan and views the international environment as “more favorable” for taking action against the Taliban.
While Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering the TTP, Afghan Taliban reject the claim, asserting that the deadly incidents in Afghanistan and the region are the responsibility of groups within Pakistan.
