Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered Pakistan's sternest warning yet to the Taliban regime on Wednesday, declaring that Islamabad would not hesitate to strike "deep into Afghanistan" if Kabul failed to rein in militants using its soil for attacks across the border.

The border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted while Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was visiting India earlier this month | Latest News India

The Taliban government accuses Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan. A blast occurred Thursday night in Kabul near key government buildings.

India reopens embassy in Kabul, marking its first diplomatic engagement with the Taliban since their 2021 takeover.

He acknowledged the Afghan delegation’s effort during negotiations but accused Kabul’s leadership of derailing the talks under India’s pressure.

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday revealed that an agreement with Afghanistan was “within reach” during the second round of Istanbul talks but was derailed several times after the Afghan negotiators “backpedaled” following instructions from Kabul.

The Taliban say an investigation is underway after an explosion in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Thursday night's explosion hit the area of Abdul Haq Square, which is near several ministries and the General Directorate of Intelligence.

Both sides reiterated the importance of accelerating transit processes and simplifying customs procedures to strengthen regional trade and increase exchanges between Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused Kabul of acting as a tool for Delhi, warning that if Afghanistan attacks Islamabad, Pakistan's response would be 50 times stronger, after peace talks collapsed.