Police officers stand guard at the main entry gate of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. Photo: File
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday summoned the Afghan deputy head of mission to deliver a strong demarche over the February 16 attack in Bajaur that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers.
The assault involved a suicide car bomb followed by a firing raid on a post of Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies. Authorities attributed the attack to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which Pakistani officials refer to as Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK).
Pakistan condemned the attack in the strongest terms and said such incidents have serious implications for regional security.
According to a Foreign Office statement, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern over the continued operations of the TTP, whose leadership it says resides in Afghanistan and operates with impunity from Afghan soil.
The ministry said Pakistan has received multiple assurances from the Afghan Taliban but “no significant or tangible actions” have been taken to curb these activities.
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Islamabad told the Afghan interim government it must take “immediate, concrete, and verifiable measures” against all terrorist groups operating from its territory, including their leadership. It also warned that Pakistan reserves the right to act against elements linked to FAK and their facilitators “wherever they may be” to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians and territorial integrity.
The Bajaur incident has further strained ties between the two countries, with Pakistan stressing that Afghan authorities must take responsibility for groups operating from their soil.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan would not hesitate to conduct more air strikes in Afghanistan if no action was taken by Kabul against terrorists on its soil to ensure peace.
The federal government has been consistently raising its voice on international forums against terrorist sanctuaries operating in Afghanistan and using its soil to launch attacks on Pakistan – a development attested to by the United Nations Security Council.
