Pakistan’s patience over cross-border terrorism has run out, says Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday warned that Pakistan’s patience over cross-border terrorism has “run out,” declaring that those providing shelter to militants will “have to answer.”

Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister proposed sending a delegation to Afghanistan next week to convey Pakistan’s concerns and urged both federal and provincial governments to stand united behind the armed forces in addressing the security threat.

Asif said Islamabad must make it clear to Afghan authorities that terrorist activities originating from Afghan soil are no longer tolerable.

He recalled that during an official visit to Kabul three years ago — which he undertook along with the then Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) — Pakistan had cautioned Afghan officials that militant sanctuaries across the border were being used to launch attacks inside Pakistani provinces.

The minister’s remarks come amid a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern regions, which officials say are being coordinated from across the border.