- Pakistan says the safety and security of its citizens remains the top priority.
- Attacks carried out by Khwarij managers, says the Ministry of Information.
- Afghanistan has been urged to stop the use of its territory by terrorist groups.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes targeting seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), its affiliates and Daesh Khorasan Province (DKP) along the Pakistan-Afghan border in response to recent suicide attacks, the government announced early on Sunday.
According to the Information Ministry, the operation was carried out “with precision and accuracy” in retaliation for suicide attacks that took place 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 the FAK and Daesh.
The ministry said that despite repeated requests urging Afghan Taliban authorities to take verifiable steps to end the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups and foreign proxies, “no substantial steps have been taken.”
He said Pakistan has always worked for peace and stability in the region, but “the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority.”
Pakistan hopes that the interim Afghan government will 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 honor 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, with a jet carrying out an airstrike that destroyed the militants’ infrastructure.
Following the strike in Paktika, another attack was reported in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, and other airstrikes were later reported in Ghani Khel, Behsud and Argoon areas. The number of possible casualties of the militants could not be confirmed, Afghan media said.
Sunday’s strikes came days after Pakistan summoned the Afghan mission and lodged a strong representation with the Afghan Taliban authorities over the deadly terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district that claimed the lives of 11 Pakistan Army soldiers.
“Pakistan has condemned in the strongest possible terms the vehicle-borne suicide terrorist attack followed by firing on the Pakistan Army and law enforcement post in Bajaur, carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Fitna al Khwarij),” said a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
This action follows the cowardly terrorist attack against a joint security and law enforcement (LEA) checkpoint on February 16.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 12 terrorists belonging to an India-backed proxy were killed while 11 security personnel embraced martyrdom in the attack.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in this process, expressed serious concern that the TTP, whose leadership is based in Afghanistan, continues to operate with impunity from Afghan soil.
It was highlighted again that Pakistan had received repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime, but unfortunately no visible or concrete action followed.
The Afghan Taliban regime has been called upon to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from its territory, including their leaders, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said the Afghan Taliban regime has also been categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate any Khwarij belonging to the TTP as well as their affiliates, wherever they may be, in order to ensure the security of its soldiers, civilians and territorial boundaries.
Pakistan has seen a rise in cross-border terrorist incidents since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The provinces of KP and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan, have been particularly affected by these attacks.
