ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has warned that Pakistan will act again if attacks originating from Afghan soil continue, saying the country has no choice but to defend itself if Afghan Taliban fails to take action against terrorist groups.
“We have told the Afghan government if again in future something will happen and if we have intelligence reports that these are their hideouts, we will strike again,” Governor Kundi said while speaking on Pakistan TV’s programme ‘Experts Corner’.
He said Islamabad has repeatedly asked Afghan authorities to ensure their territory is not used for attacks against Pakistan, adding that terrorist organisations, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda, continue to operate from across the border and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Kundi said Pakistan has presented evidence at international forums showing that Afghan territory is being used against it, but Afghanistan has failed to take effective action.
Referring to recent cross-border strikes, he said Pakistan responded after attacks in Bajaur and Bannu, maintaining that intelligence-based operations targeted militant hideouts. He described the operations as successful and reiterated that similar measures would be taken if cross-border attacks persist.
“If one government is not taking any action then Pakistan has to take action,” he said.
The governor said Pakistan has been fighting terrorism for more than two decades, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He identified the TTP as a major threat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blamed the Balochistan Liberation Army for violence in Balochistan.
Kundi expressed full support for the military, police and Frontier Corps, praising their coordination and sacrifices in efforts to restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He also criticized a previous policy that allowed terrorists to return to Pakistan, saying it reversed gains achieved during operations between 2008 and 2013 in Swat and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
He argued that many terrorists regrouped and rearmed, benefiting from weapons left behind after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.
On the merged districts, he said promised development funds had not been fully delivered or effectively utilized, contributing to unrest.
He stressed the need for sustained investment in infrastructure, education and policing to ensure long-term stability in the region.
