Pakistan Says Kabul Strikes Created New Deterrence Against TTP

DID Press: Pakistani officials say Islamabad’s retaliatory strikes in Kabul have created a “new deterrence,” arguing that the operation has alarmed the Afghan Taliban and led to a sharp decline in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Officials told The Express Tribune that last month’s cross-border operation—conducted in the heart of Kabul and targeting senior leaders of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—sent a “clear and unmistakable” message to the Taliban government that Islamabad will no longer limit its counterterrorism actions to within its own borders.

The strikes, described as Pakistan’s most decisive action since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, targeted facilities and facilitators involved in orchestrating recent attacks inside Pakistan.

According to sources familiar with the security assessment, the operation had a “significant psychological impact” on Taliban leadership and its security structures. One official said: “After the Kabul strikes, there were obvious signs of fear and caution within Taliban ranks. They now understand that wherever Pakistan finds TTP or similar groups—even inside Kabul—it will pursue them.”

Officials added that following the recent attack in Islamabad, Afghan Taliban representatives informally approached Pakistani officials, urging de-escalation and insisting they had no role in the suicide bombing outside a judicial complex. “This was highly unusual,” one official noted. “In the past, they would dismiss Pakistan’s concerns or blame TTP. But this time, behind closed doors, they were pleading that they had no involvement.” The stance is being interpreted as a sign of Taliban fears of another Pakistani retaliation.

Officials say terrorist incidents have declined since the Kabul strikes, although the threat remains. They argue the reduction is a direct result of deterrence created by Pakistan’s readiness to target high-value TTP elements inside Afghanistan. One official added: “After Kabul, they know the cost. For the first time in years, Pakistan’s message is absolutely clear: if your territory is used against us, the consequences will be delivered inside Afghanistan.”

The strikes have reportedly disrupted some TTP networks and pushed the group into a defensive posture. Sources stress that Pakistan’s policy is now explicit: any attack originating from Afghan soil will be met with a “swift and decisive” response. “Pakistan will no longer wait for prolonged diplomatic negotiations,” an official said. “Our red line is clear—if another attack occurs, we will act immediately.”

Officials also dismissed concerns over international backlash, saying global dynamics are now more favorable: many Taliban leaders remain under UN sanctions, and Western nations are increasingly frustrated with the Taliban’s inability—or unwillingness—to act against terrorist groups. “Pakistan does not expect any significant diplomatic cost,” one official said. “The world has not forgotten the Taliban, and no one is prepared to defend TTP or justify the Taliban’s inaction.”

Islamabad hopes the renewed pressure will force the Taliban to reconsider their long-standing ties with TTP. As a senior Pakistani security official put it: “The Kabul strikes were not an isolated incident; they were the message of Pakistan’s new doctrine. If the Taliban do not act, Pakistan will.”

Meanwhile, Pakistani media report that TTP fighters and Baloch Liberation Army militants continue to carry out near-daily attacks inside Pakistan and clash with the country’s security forces.