Pakistan Threatens to ‘Obliterate’ Taliban After Peace Talks Collapse

Pakistan has threatened to “obliterate” the Taliban regime in Afghanistan following the failure of peace talks in Istanbul, raising fears of a new regional conflict. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on X that Pakistan would not need to use “even a fraction” of its arsenal to push the Taliban “back to the caves.” His statement followed the collapse of Turkey- and Qatar-mediated talks, which aimed to prevent further border clashes. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the Afghan side of deflecting from the main issue — militant groups allegedly using Afghan soil to attack Pakistani security forces. The Afghan Taliban has not yet commented on the remarks. Earlier this month, Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) inside Afghanistan, prompting retaliatory attacks along the border. Despite a temporary ceasefire, recent skirmishes left five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants dead. Officials warn that failure to reach a deal could lead to “open war”, as Islamabad demands firm action against cross-border terrorism. The situation remains tense, with both nations blaming each other for the breakdown in dialogue.