The manager affirms that the operation will be carried out to its logical conclusion; rejects regional fallout
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan will not hesitate to target senior leaders of the Afghan Taliban, including reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, if credible intelligence becomes available, a senior security source revealed on Monday, as Islamabad continues an expanded military campaign across the border.
At a briefing, a security source did not rule out the possibility of eliminating Taliban leaders while responding to a question on whether ongoing operations in Pakistan would also extend to the Taliban’s political and military leadership.
“If there is actionable intelligence, no target will be ruled out,” the source said. “This includes the most senior leaders.”
Pakistan is currently waging what officials describe as a relentless and calibrated campaign, through both ground offensives and precision airstrikes, aimed at degrading infrastructure that facilitates cross-border terrorist attacks.
The focus of the operation remains Taliban military bases, munitions depots and other facilities that support the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other anti-Pakistan groups.
The senior official said the army was not operating under artificial deadlines. “Pakistan is in no hurry. This operation will be carried out to its logical conclusion,” the source stressed, indicating a long-term 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 ride on two boats,” the source remarked, calling the Kabul regime a “master proxy” that allowed anti-Pakistan militants to regroup.
“If they are sincere, they should hand over Noor Wali Mehsud and other Pakistani terrorists who have taken refuge there,” he said, adding that failure to cooperate would result in sustained and intensified strikes. “If they don’t cooperate, we will continue to hit them hard.”
The source said Pakistan’s operations have already significantly weakened the Taliban’s operational capacity. Without disclosing details, he suggested that the true number of casualties inflicted in recent strikes was “much higher” than publicly admitted.
“The impact is substantial. Their infrastructure has been degraded to such an extent that they are feeling the pressure,” he said, hinting at greater operational successes than those reflected in official statements.
The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions and speculation about broader geopolitical repercussions, particularly in light of the crisis involving Iran. Dismissing concerns that Pakistan could be the next target after Iran, the source said such fears were misplaced. “An unnecessary fear is being created: after Iran, Pakistan will be the next country. Pakistan is not Iran. Pakistan is Pakistan,” he stressed.
He explained that Islamabad’s foreign policy position was fundamentally different from Tehran’s. “Unlike Iran, Pakistan has maintained a balanced foreign policy. We maintain good relations with all major powers. Our foreign policy is not driven by emotions but by a well-calculated strategy. We are not a pariah state. Our worldview is different.”
The source dismissed speculation that the emergence of a hostile government in Iran could create complications for Pakistan.
Drawing a comparison with Pakistan’s long-standing rivalry with India, he said Islamabad was used to facing adversarial relations. “We have been dealing with India for decades, so we should not worry about hypothetical scenarios,” he said.
However, the official acknowledged that the current environment was challenging and demanded unity in the country. “In these difficult times, what Pakistan needs most is internal cohesion,” the source stressed.
