Pakistan has conveyed to Afghanistan's Taliban-led government that ending the facilitation, shelter and patronage of terrorists operating against Pakistan remains its foremost security demand, security sources said during an important media briefing on Tuesday.
The sources said Pakistan had engaged with the current Afghan administration through diplomatic channels for four years between 2021 and 2025 but had reached the conclusion that terrorist groups continued to operate from Afghan territory, posing a serious threat to Pakistan's national security.
"In the present era, Afghanistan and terrorism have become inseparable," the sources said, alleging that militant groups operating against Pakistan continued to benefit from support and safe havens across the border.
According to the sources, security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted 32,092 counterterrorism operations across the country this year as part of efforts to curb militancy and dismantle terrorist networks.
The sources said 2,170 terrorism incidents occurred during the period under review, resulting in the martyrdom of 640 Pakistanis, while 1,861 terrorists were killed during intelligence-based and counterterrorism operations.
They alleged that militant groups, including what they referred to as "Fitna al-Kharij" and "Fitna al-Hindustan," had flourished under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban administration and had emerged as a major security challenge for Pakistan.
According to the sources, Pakistan's diplomatic relations with Afghanistan remain transparent, formal and focused on one principal demand: preventing Afghan territory from being used for terrorism against Pakistan.
The sources maintained that Islamabad had repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to stop the facilitation, shelter and support of terrorist groups involved in attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan's engagement with Afghanistan from 2021 to 2025 demonstrated its commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, the sources said, adding that Islamabad had consistently preferred negotiations over confrontation.
However, the sources alleged that the Afghan Taliban administration had failed to take effective measures against terrorist groups operating from its territory and had shown little seriousness in preventing Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan.
According to the sources, Pakistan's patience had been tested by continued militant activity originating across the border.
The sources said all Pakistani military and air operations targeting terrorist hideouts had been conducted on the basis of precise and verified intelligence.
"Every strike was carried out on the basis of extremely accurate and solid intelligence reports," the sources said.
They further alleged that the Afghan Taliban administration lacked respect for the rights of women and children and supported what they described as a distorted interpretation of Islam.
According to the sources, the Taliban administration's conduct and policies had significantly reduced prospects for meaningful cooperation and engagement.
The sources said Pakistan had now decided to target terrorist hideouts across the border when necessary to protect its citizens and national security interests.
They reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to defending its sovereignty and would continue to pursue both diplomatic and security measures to counter terrorism and protect its borders.