'Will push them back into caves': Pak threatens Taliban; peace talks fail

The remarks came just hours after Pakistan announced the failure of its peace talks with the Taliban government. According to news agency AFP, the recent clashes following the October 9 explosions in Kabul have killed more than 70 people and left hundreds injured.

The two sides had been holding talks in Istanbul, mediated by Qatar and Turkey.

According to a report published in the Pakistan news outlet The Dawn, Asif said, "Let me assure them that Pakistan does not require to employ even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime and push them back to the caves for hiding,” Asif declared.

When asked if Afghanistan was heading for a repeat of the 2001 Tora Bora offensive, the Pakistan minister replied in the affirmative. He added, “If they wish so, the repeat of the scenes of their rout at Tora Bora, with their tails between the legs, would surely be a spectacle to watch for the people of the region.”