Information Ministry Condemns Terrorist Attack in Kohat
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Sep, 2026) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on civilians and police personnel offering Friday prayers at the old Kohat Police Lines, urging the Afghan Taliban authorities to take concrete and verifiable measures against militant networks operating from Afghan territory.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said Pakistan had repeatedly raised concerns over the alleged use of Afghan territory by Fitna al-Khawarij and other terrorist groups to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The ministry stated that:
The presence of alleged terrorist sanctuaries, along with recruitment and support networks in Afghanistan, posed a direct security threat to Pakistan.
It emphasized these concerns had been conveyed repeatedly to the Afghan Taliban authorities and their interlocutors, calling on them to dismantle such networks rather than deflect responsibility.
The ministry also criticized remarks attributed to Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who reportedly threatened Pakistan with a “crushing response.” They stated that such statements were unacceptable in light of Pakistan’s allegations regarding militant activity originating from Afghan territory. The ministry argued that the Afghan Taliban should address the terrorist ecosystem rather than shift responsibility.
They also referenced the Doha Agreement and reminded the Afghan authorities of their obligations to prevent their territory from being used to threaten other countries. Pakistan took note of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' condemnation of the Kohat attack and its expression of sympathy for the victims' families, while noting that the statement did not explicitly refer to terrorism.
"Condemnation must be matched by concrete action," the ministry said, calling on the Afghan Taliban to adopt credible, verifiable and sustained measures to dismantle alleged terrorist sanctuaries, disrupt recruitment and training networks, and prevent militant groups from planning or launching attacks against Pakistan.
The ministry stated that Pakistan had both the will and capability to confront terrorist threats and would take necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, territory, and sovereignty. They also warned that the continued presence and activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan could contribute to wider regional instability, with potential repercussions beyond the region.
Finally, they called on the international community to press the Afghan Taliban authorities to take decisive and verifiable action against terrorist networks before the threat spreads.