- Pakistan says the safety of its citizens remains the top priority.
- Attacks carried out by Khwarij agents, says Ministry of Information.
- Afghanistan is urged to stop the use of its territory by terrorist groups.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes against seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), its affiliates and Daesh Khorasan Province (DKP) along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to recent suicide attacks, the government said early Sunday.
According to the Information Ministry, the operation was carried out “with precision and accuracy” as a retaliatory response to incidents of suicide bombings in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu during the holy month of Ramzan.
“The suicide attacks were carried out by Khwarij under the direction of leaders and officials based in Afghanistan,” the ministry said, adding that responsibility for the attacks was also claimed by the Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban linked to FAK and Daesh.
The ministry said that despite repeated requests urging Afghan Taliban authorities to take verifiable steps to stop the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups and foreign proxies, “no substantial action was taken.”
He said Pakistan has always worked for peace and stability in the region, but “the security of our citizens remains our top priority.”
Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to fulfill its obligations and prevent the use of its territory by terrorist groups against Pakistan, the statement said.
The ministry also called on the international community to play a constructive role in encouraging Afghan authorities to fulfill their commitments under the Doha Agreement to prevent the use of Afghan soil against other countries, saying such measures are vital for regional and global peace and security.
Earlier, Afghan media reported, citing sources, that an explosion targeted a militant hideout in the Bermal area of Afghanistan’s Paktika province, and that jet aircraft carried out an airstrike that destroyed militant infrastructure.
Following the attack in Paktika, another attack was reported in the Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, and further airstrikes were subsequently reported in the Ghani Khel, Behsud and Argoon areas. The number of possible militant casualties could not be confirmed, Afghan media said.
The attacks early Sunday came days after Pakistan summoned the Afghan mission and made a firm representation to the Afghan Taliban authorities over the deadly terror attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district that killed 11 Pakistan Army soldiers.
“Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the suicide vehicle terrorist attack, followed by a fire attack on Pakistan’s military and police agencies post in Bajaur, carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Fitna al Khwarij),” a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
The move came after the cowardly terrorist attack on a joint security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEA) checkpoint on February 16.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 12 terrorists belonging to an Indian-backed proxy were killed while 11 security personnel embraced martyrdom in the attack.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in management, expressed serious concern that the TTP, whose leadership is based in Afghanistan, continues to operate with impunity from Afghan soil.
It was again emphasized that Pakistan has received repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime, but unfortunately, no visible or concrete action has been taken.
The Afghan Taliban regime was ordered to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from its territory, including their leaders, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said that the Afghan Taliban regime was also categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate any Khwarij belonging to the TTP along with its affiliates, wherever they are located, to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians and territorial borders.
Pakistan has seen an increase in cross-border terrorist incidents since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The provinces of KP and Balochistan, bordering Afghanistan, have been particularly affected by these attacks.
