Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has stated that Pakistan may conduct a counterterrorist operation in Afghanistan if the Afghan authorities fail to address the "terrorist threat".

Bhutto-Zardari emphasized that Pakistan does not want to be forced into such an action but asserted that the country has the right to self-defense according to international law. He mentioned that if Pakistan continues to face attacks without an appropriate response, it may resort to conducting operations in Afghanistan. However, he expressed that this option should not be among the country's first choices.

The Foreign Minister also highlighted that the Taliban, despite being under UN sanctions for terrorism, had committed, under the 2020 agreement signed with the United States in Doha, to prevent militants and terrorists from operating in Afghanistan or launching attacks against other countries from its territory. Bhutto-Zardari urged the Afghan authorities to fulfill this commitment and "act against the terrorist elements".

He further stated that if the Taliban requires assistance, Pakistan should be prepared to help, but the preferred approach is to have the Afghan officials "take action against the terrorists".

Bhutto-Zardari's remarks come in the backdrop of a rising number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, with the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reporting 54 militant attacks last month, resulting in civilian and law enforcement casualties. The most recent attack occurred in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, claiming 54 lives.

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