Key points:
- Information Minister Attaullah Tarar challenged the Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) to declare whether it aligns with Pakistan or Afghanistan amid a spate of cross‑border attacks.
- The minister highlighted recent militant incidents along the Khyber corridor, warning that any perceived support for Afghan‑based groups could jeopardise Pakistan’s internal security.
- Islamabad is intensifying coordination with intelligence and law‑enforcement agencies to curb infiltration from across the Durand Line.
- PTI has not issued an official response, underscoring the growing political pressure to adopt a clear anti‑terror stance.
In a press briefing in Islamabad, Minister Attaullah Tarar warned the PTI that wavering on the issue of cross‑border terrorism would undermine the nation’s stability. Citing a series of armed encounters and explosive attacks reported in the Khyber tribal districts over the past weeks, he urged the opposition party to “pick a side”—either stand with Pakistan’s counter‑terrorism efforts or appear to sympathise with groups operating from Afghan territory.
Tarar’s remarks come as the federal government tightens its partnership with the Inter‑Services Intelligence, the Frontier Corps, and provincial police forces to seal porous border stretches that militants exploit. The Khyber Pass, a historic gateway between the two countries, has seen renewed movement of weapons and fighters since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, prompting Islamabad to demand unequivocal political support for its security operations.
The PTI, which remains a major political force especially in Punjab and Khyber‑Pakhtunkhwa, has yet to release a formal statement. Analysts suggest that the minister’s public challenge may be intended to pressure the party into distancing itself from any narratives that could be interpreted as tacit endorsement of Afghan‑based insurgents, thereby reinforcing the government’s broader agenda of national cohesion and counter‑terrorism vigilance.