ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has conveyed to key world capitals and friendly nations that it will no longer tolerate cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan and that any future aggression will receive a swift and decisive response, diplomatic sources told The Express PAkGazette on Tuesday.
Three days after the deadly border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in Islamabad to brief them on the evolving security situation and Islamabad’s posture.
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch gave a “complete briefing” to the resident ambassadors in Islamabad on “the recent developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border”.
“She underlined Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and its unwavering determination to protect its territorial integrity and national security,” the statement added.
While the statement did not give further details, sources confirmed that diplomats were briefed about the rise in terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to persuade Taliban authorities to act decisively against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates.
Instead of cooperating, Afghan forces resorted to unprovoked firing at multiple Pakistani border posts on the night of October 11, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 23 Pakistani soldiers.
Pakistan responded quickly and attacked terrorist hideouts and infrastructure that facilitated cross-border attacks from across the border. Pakistan’s response killed more than 200 Taliban and their affiliated terrorists, according to the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Foreign Ministry officials told diplomats that Pakistan’s response was precise and focused solely on terror sanctuaries used to facilitate attacks on Pakistani soil. They also said Islamabad would continue to act in self-defense and protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Following last Saturday’s clashes, Pakistan revised its rules of engagement and declared that any future cross-border attacks will trigger immediate retaliatory actions within Afghanistan.
In a major policy shift, Pakistan also decided to refer to the Kabul administration as the “Afghan regime” instead of the “Afghan interim government,” signaling a downgrading of diplomatic recognition. The change means that Islamabad will now view the Taliban government as an imposition and not a representative of the will of the Afghan people.
A senior official told The Express PAkGazette that this recalibration is part of a multi-pronged strategy to exert maximum pressure on the Taliban regime.
“This is the price they have to pay for supporting terrorist groups,” the official said, adding that Kabul should no longer expect concessions from Islamabad.
Pakistan, once a strong supporter of the Afghan Taliban, no longer supports the rulers in Kabul, the official added.
