A senior Pakistani security source warns that the top leadership of the Afghan Taliban, including Hibatullah Akhundzada, could be targeted if actionable intelligence is available, as Islamabad intensifies its cross-border campaign against militant infrastructure.
Islamabad: Pakistan has signaled a major escalation in its cross-border military campaign, with a senior security official warning that the top leadership of the Afghan Taliban, including reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, could be targeted if credible intelligence becomes available.
In a high-level background briefing on Monday, the source made it clear that Pakistan’s ongoing operations, which include ground offensives and precision air strikes, are not limited to militant infrastructure. When asked whether the campaign could extend to the Taliban’s political and military hierarchy, the response was unequivocal.
“If there is actionable intelligence, no target will be off the table. This includes the top leadership,” the source stated.
A Campaign Without Deadlines
The official described the current military effort as a “relentless and calibrated campaign” aimed at degrading the infrastructure used by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other anti-Pakistan groups operating from Afghan soil.
Pakistan, the source emphasized, is not working under any artificial timelines. “Pakistan is not in a hurry. This operation will be taken to its logical end,” he stressed, indicating a long-haul strategy designed to force a fundamental shift in Kabul’s behavior.
The core demand from Islamabad is clear: the Afghan Taliban regime must make a “clear and irreversible choice” between harboring the TTP and maintaining a functional relationship with Pakistan.
“The Afghan Taliban cannot ride two boats,” the source remarked, characterizing the Kabul regime as a “master proxy” that has allowed militants to regroup. “If they are sincere, they should hand over Noor Wali Mehsud and other Pakistani terrorists taking refuge there. If they don’t cooperate, we will continue to hit them hard.”
Operational Impact and ‘Hidden’ Casualties
While official statements have been measured, the source suggested that the actual impact of recent strikes is far greater than publicly acknowledged. He claimed that the Taliban’s operational capacity has been “significantly undermined” and that the number of casualties inflicted is “far higher” than reported.
“The impact is substantial. Their infrastructure has been degraded to an extent that they are feeling the pressure,” he said.
‘Pakistan is Not Iran’: Dismissing Regional Spillover Fears
The briefing comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, particularly the widening conflict involving Iran. The source moved to dismiss speculation that Pakistan could be the next target in a broader regional realignment.
“An unnecessary scare is being created that after Iran, Pakistan will be next. Pakistan is not Iran. Pakistan is Pakistan,” he emphasized.
He drew a sharp distinction between Islamabad’s foreign policy and Tehran’s, highlighting Pakistan’s historically balanced approach.
“Unlike Iran, Pakistan has maintained a balanced foreign policy. We have good relations with all major powers. Our foreign policy is not driven by emotions but by well-calculated strategy. We are not a pariah state. Our worldview is different.”
When asked about the potential emergence of a hostile government in Iran, the source pointed to Pakistan’s long-standing rivalry with India as proof of its resilience. “We have dealt with India for decades. So we should not be worried about hypothetical scenarios.”
The Domestic Front: A Call for Unity
Acknowledging the testing nature of the current environment, the official stressed that external challenges can only be met with internal strength. “In these challenging times, what Pakistan needs most is internal cohesion,” he concluded.
