In a significant diplomatic escalation, Pakistan summoned the Afghan chargé d'affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last night and issued a strong demarche concerning the recent terrorist attack in Karachi. The demarche was accompanied by a parallel message delivered by Pakistan's Ambassador, Mr. Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The move comes in the wake of clear evidence that Afghan nationals, including one perpetrator captured alive, were directly involved in orchestrating the attack. This incident underscores a persistent and troubling pattern: Afghan soil and Afghan nationals continue to be used as launchpads for terrorist activities targeting Pakistan. From my perspective, this is a critical moment for bilateral relations. While diplomatic protests are necessary, they often fall short of addressing the root cause—namely, the lack of effective territorial control and counterterrorism cooperation from Afghanistan's authorities. The fact that a perpetrator was captured alive presents a unique opportunity for joint investigation and intelligence sharing. However, without concrete, verifiable actions from Kabul to dismantle terrorist networks operating within its borders, such demarches risk becoming hollow rituals. Pakistan must now leverage this evidence to push for a more robust, results-oriented partnership—or consider unilateral measures to protect its citizens. The international community, too, must recognize that this is not just a bilateral issue but a regional security threat demanding coordinated pressure on all sides.