ISLAMABAD: (Oct 18) Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Saturday issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, urging its Taliban leadership to “choose between peace and chaos” as hostilities between the two countries threaten to spiral further.
Munir’s comments came just hours after Pakistan launched fresh air strikes on alleged terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan late Friday night. The strikes followed reports that the Taliban regime had failed to curb cross-border attacks by militants operating from Afghan territory.
The warning also came a day after both nations agreed to extend their two-day ceasefire, brokered earlier in the week, which had briefly paused the deadly border clashes that killed dozens on both sides.
“Afghanistan must choose between peace and chaos,” the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said while addressing a passing-out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, Abbottabad. “Pakistan’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness. We seek peace with dignity, but we will respond decisively to any threat to our sovereignty.”
Field Marshal Munir reiterated that Pakistan would not tolerate the use of Afghan soil for terrorism, urging Kabul to take “firm and immediate action” against groups responsible for recent attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Security analysts say the renewed escalation marks one of the most serious confrontations between Islamabad and Kabul since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Over the past week, Pakistan’s military claimed to have killed more than 40 Afghan Taliban fighters in retaliatory operations following attacks on its border outposts.
Tensions flared after Islamabad accused the Taliban of harbouring members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group blamed for multiple attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has denied the allegations, saying Pakistan’s strikes violate its sovereignty.
Despite the extended ceasefire, border crossings remain closed, and heavy troop deployments continue on both sides. The United Nations on Thursday urged both countries to bring “a lasting end to hostilities” and protect civilians caught in the crossfire.