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.

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

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.

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.

"Any terrorist attack or any suicide bombing inside Pakistan shall give you the bitter taste of such misadventures," defence minister says.

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.

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has confirmed for the first time that the country carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan during a week-long conflict earlier this month, saying

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.