The official says the operation will be carried to its logical end; rejects regional contagion
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan will not hesitate to target the top leadership of the Afghan Taliban, including ousted supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, if credible intelligence becomes available, a senior security source revealed on Monday, as Islamabad pushes ahead with an expanded military campaign across the border.
In a background briefing, a security source did not rule out the possibility of excluding Taliban leaders while responding to a question about whether Pakistan’s ongoing operations would also extend to the Taliban’s political and military leadership.
“If there is actionable intelligence, no target will be off the table,” the source said. “This includes senior management.”
Pakistan is currently engaged in what officials describe as a relentless and calibrated campaign, through both offensive ground strikes and precision airstrikes, aimed at degrading infrastructure that facilitates cross-border terrorist attacks.
The focus of the operation remains Taliban military bases, ammunition depots and other facilities that support the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other anti-Pakistan groups.
The senior official said the military was not operating under any artificial deadlines. “Pakistan is in no hurry. This operation will be taken to its logical conclusion,” the source stressed, indicating a long-range strategy rather than a short, symbolic response.
According to the source, the campaign will continue until Kabul makes a “clear and irreversible choice” between the TTP and Pakistan. “The Afghan Taliban cannot sail two boats,” the source noted, labeling the Kabul regime a “master proxy” that has allowed anti-Pakistan militants to regroup.
“If they are sincere, they should hand over Noor Wali Mehsud and other Pakistani terrorists taking refuge there,” he said, adding that non-cooperation would invite sustained and intensified attacks. “If they don’t cooperate, we will continue to hit them hard.”
The source said Pakistan’s operations have already significantly undermined the Taliban’s operational capabilities. Without revealing the details, he suggested that the actual number of casualties suffered during the recent strikes was “far higher” than publicly acknowledged.
“The impact is significant. Their infrastructure has deteriorated to such an extent that they are feeling the pressure,” he said, hinting at deeper operational successes than reflected in official statements.
The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and speculation about wider geopolitical fallout, particularly in light of the crisis involving Iran. The source dismissed concerns that Pakistan could be the next target after Iran, saying such fears were misplaced. “An unnecessary scare is being created that after Iran, Pakistan will be next. Pakistan is not Iran. Pakistan is Pakistan,” he stressed.
He explained that Islamabad’s foreign policy stance was fundamentally different from Tehran’s. “Unlike Iran, Pakistan has maintained a balanced foreign policy. We have good relations with all major powers. Our foreign policy is not driven by emotion but by well-considered strategy. We are not a pariah state. Our worldview is different.”
The source brushed aside speculation that the emergence of a hostile government in Iran could create complications for Pakistan.
Drawing a comparison to Pakistan’s long-standing rivalry with India, he said Islamabad was used to navigating adversarial relationships. “We have been dealing with India for decades. So we should not be worried about hypothetical scenarios,” he said.
However, the official acknowledged that the current environment was testing and required unity at home. “In these challenging times, what Pakistan needs most is internal cohesion,” the source stressed.
