On February 18, 2026, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a demarche to the Afghan Taliban regime, summoning the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission to express strong condemnation of the February 16 terrorist attack in Bajaur that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers. This action was officially confirmed in a press release by the Foreign Office, underscoring Pakistan's growing frustration with the Afghan Taliban's failure to take significant actions against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates with impunity from Afghan soil. Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterated, "Pakistan reserves the right to target terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan to protect the lives of civilians and law enforcement personnel." Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that military options, including air strikes, remain on the table if the Taliban does not act decisively against these groups.