ISLAMABAD:
Two days after airstrikes inside Afghanistan, Pakistan said Thursday that security forces are carrying out operations in border areas to protect its citizens, but stopped short of explicitly stating that action was taken inside Afghan territory.
“Pakistan is committed to the security of its people. Our security and law enforcement personnel carry out operations in the border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terrorist groups, including the TTP. [Tehreek-e-Taliban, Pakistan]”said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
“These operations are carefully selected and based on authentic and concrete intelligence. We respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan,” spokesman Baloch said at a weekly press conference.
While Pakistan refused to confirm the attacks, Afghan authorities summoned a Pakistani diplomat in Kabul to register a formal protest over the incident. Kabul claimed that Pakistan carried out airstrikes on four different locations in Bermal district.
The spokesperson was repeatedly asked to comment on the airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, but she opted for a carefully worded statement and did not specifically mention whether the strikes took place inside Afghanistan.
“I would like to emphasize once again that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations are carefully selected and based on authentic and concrete intelligence, and the protection of civilians is always a key consideration in any such decision,” Baloch responded, when asked. He asked about the nature of the operations and their location.
He stressed that Afghanistan should be able to reclaim its sovereignty and security. “As I said before, Pakistan respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan. We believe that Afghanistan should be able to reclaim its sovereignty and security, and terrorist groups that threaten the security of Afghanistan and Pakistan must be combated by both countries,” he said. .
The airstrikes reported on December 24 were the second this year and came at a time when Pakistan was battling fresh terrorist attacks sponsored by the TTP. In the latest attack in South Waziristan, 16 Pakistani soldiers were martyred.
The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan preferred diplomacy and dialogue to resolve issues with Afghanistan. “Pakistan has been engaged in Afghanistan for the last few days, and our special envoy for Afghanistan discussed all issues related to terrorist groups, which have found safe havens inside Afghanistan,” he told reporters.
“These matters have been discussed and we will continue to engage with Afghanistan to resolve any issues that arise. I would like to underline that Pakistan believes in dialogue and diplomacy. We have always prioritized diplomacy in relations with Afghanistan, and we believe that it is essential that both countries work together to combat this terrorist threat, which is a threat not only to Pakistan, but also to Afghanistan.”
He further said that Pakistan believed that terrorist groups like the TTP were a collective threat to regional peace and security. “Therefore, it is important that we work together to combat the threat posed by the TTP,” he stressed.
Responding to further questions about repeated calls for Imran Khan’s release by certain Trump administration officials, the spokesperson refused to get involved in the controversy and stated that Pakistan would like to have “a positive and constructive relationship with the United States.” on the basis of mutual respect”. and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.”
“And we hope that all officials will contribute to this goal of positive relations between Pakistan and the United States. As for anyone making statements in their individual capacity, we would not like to comment on that. We will continue to engage with officials and public figures in the United States and discuss with them issues of mutual interest and concern,” he said.
