Pakistan has issued a strong warning to the Taliban government in Kabul, demanding that it sever ties with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and fulfill its pledge to eliminate the group from Afghan territory. Islamabad cautioned that continued Taliban support would be considered a “hostile” act, according to local media reports on Wednesday.

The Foreign Office summoned Afghanistan’s interim ambassador in Islamabad to convey Pakistan’s concerns following a surge in TTP-linked terrorist incidents. Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Assad Gilani pressed the envoy to ensure Afghan soil is not used for cross-border terrorism.

The diplomatic move follows a series of deadly TTP attacks between September 10 and 13 in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which killed at least 12 Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan’s military confirmed the casualties through its Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), adding that 35 militants were killed in retaliatory operations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Bannu after the attacks, attending a high-level counter-terrorism meeting and the funeral prayers of fallen soldiers. Sharif vowed to respond to terrorism with “full force” and accused Afghan-based militants of orchestrating the violence.

“The Afghan Interim Government has been clearly told to choose between supporting the Khawarij or standing with Pakistan,” Sharif was quoted as saying by local media, adding that many terrorists infiltrating Pakistan were Afghan nationals. He also stressed the urgency of repatriating illegal Afghan residents.

Special Assistant to PM Muhammad Sadiq Khan is expected to lead a delegation to Kabul later this week to deliver Islamabad’s message directly to Taliban leadership.

Analysts view the escalating tensions as a test for Taliban’s commitments under regional security assurances.