Pakistan issues demarche to Afghan Taliban regime over Bannu terrorist attack

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Afghan Chargé d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Monday to deliver a strong demarche regarding the cowardly vehicle-borne IED attack carried out by terrorists of Fitna-al-Khawarij on the Fateh Khel Police Post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bannu District on 9th of this month.

The attack resulted in the martyrdom of 15 police constables and injuries to four others, including a civilian.

According to the Foreign Office (FO), Pakistani authorities shared the findings of an extensive investigation into the attack, along with technical intelligence and other evidence, which allegedly showed that the operation had been planned by terrorists based inside Afghanistan.

Islamabad once again conveyed its serious concerns over the repeated use of Afghan territory for launching terrorist activities against Pakistan.

The Afghan side was informed that Pakistan reserves the right to take firm action against those involved in what it described as a brutal act of terrorism.

It was also pointed out that the presence of different terrorist groups on Afghan soil, as well as the conditions allowing them to operate freely, has already been highlighted in reports issued by the UN Monitoring Team and several international organizations.

Pakistan emphasized that eliminating terrorism is a shared responsibility and urged the Afghan Taliban to uphold their commitment of preventing Afghan territory from being used to target other countries.

The statement further said that Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban administration to take concrete and verifiable measures against Fitna-al-Khawarij, Fitna-al-Hindustan, and ISKP/Daesh militants allegedly operating from Afghanistan.

It added that Pakistan had continued diplomatic engagement with the Afghan Taliban through multiple rounds of discussions facilitated by friendly and brotherly countries.

However, Islamabad maintained that the Afghan authorities have repeatedly failed to take meaningful and measurable action against these militant networks.

The Afghan Taliban regime has also been categorically informed that, if it continues to harbour these terrorist organizations, Pakistan will not compromise on its national security or on the safety and protection of its citizens.