Says country determined to carry out similar retributive actions in future if such activities continue
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Photo: Radio Pakistan
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday informed the Senate that more than 100 terrorists were killed in retributive air strikes carried out by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Afghanistan.
The statement came after Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes on seven terrorist camps along the Afghan border early on Sunday morning following a series of recent suicide bombings, including an attack on an imambargah in Islamabad and incidents in Bajaur and Bannu. Security sources said Pakistan conducted a large intelligence-based aerial operation in eastern Afghanistan targeting seven key hideouts, killing several terrorists, including Taliban commander Akhtar Muhammad.
According to sources, jet aircraft struck terrorist shelters in Bermal district of Paktika, where loud explosions were heard across the area. Facilities used by terrorists were reported heavily damaged.
Briefing the Upper House in today’s session, Chaudhry said the government was fully aware of its responsibility to protect citizens and territory. He confirmed that the PAF conducted intelligence-based air strikes on February 21 in three Afghan provinces, targeting what he described as safe hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists.
Chaudhry said the air strikes were conducted strictly on the basis of intelligence and that terrorist camps and training facilities were successfully targeted. He stressed that no civilians were targeted during the operation.
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The minister said Pakistan had presented “solid evidence” to the Taliban government regarding terrorism originating from Afghan soil. He added that details of terrorists safe havens and training camps had also been shared with Afghan authorities.
Chaudhry said Pakistan would not compromise on national security and would not allow anyone to weaken its defence.
“Pakistan reserves the right to respond to terrorist activities in self-defence,” he said, adding that the country was determined to carry out similar retributive actions in the future if such activities continued.
Referring to the Doha talks, during which Pakistan had urged Afghanistan to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries operating from Afghan soil, Chaudhry said no serious effort was made by Kabul to dismantle the networks.
“In negotiations, Rs10 billion was demanded from Pakistan to resettle terrorists on the other side,” he said, adding that Islamabad was not provided with any written guarantee ensuring there would be no further infiltration into Pakistan.
He also referred to recent attacks inside Pakistan, including the suicide bombing at an imambargah in Tarlai in which around 36 people were killed. Armed forces personnel were also martyred in separate incidents in Bajaur and Bannu, he added.
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“We are carrying out funerals. Our soldiers are fighting to defend the country,” he said.
Following such incidents, he said, the government decided that a decisive response to terrorists was necessary.
He further alleged that the “fabric of all terrorist incidents” in Pakistan originated from Afghanistan.
“Pakistan can no longer tolerate all this,” he said.
