Islamabad: The Foreign Office summoned the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission to deliver a strong demarche to Afghanistan following a militant attack that claimed the lives of 11 soldiers in the Bajaur tribal district of Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, which borders Afghanistan.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Pakistani Foreign Office condemned the vehicle-borne suicide militant attack, which was followed by a fire raid on a Pakistan Military and Law Enforcement Agencies' post in Bajaur. The spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Tahir Andrabi, expressed serious concerns over the presence and operations of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghan soil, noting that the group's entire leadership is based in Afghanistan and operates with impunity.
Tahir Andrabi further emphasized that Pakistan has repeatedly received assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime regarding action against militant groups, but unfortunately, no visible or concrete measures have been observed. The Afghan Taliban regime has been urged to take immediate, concrete, and verifiable actions against all terror groups operating from its territory, including their leadership.
The spokesperson also highlighted that the Afghan Taliban regime has been informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate militants and their affiliates to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians, and territorial boundaries. The attack on Monday, which resulted in the death of at least 11 security personnel at a security check post, was swiftly countered by the vigilant response of Pakistan's security forces.
Islamabad's condemnation comes amid a surge in militant attacks in the KPK and Balochistan provinces, which share a border with Afghanistan.