Pakistan has called for “immediate, robust, and effective action” by the interim Afghan government against the perpetrators of the recent terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment, in which eight military personnel were martyred and many others injured.
According to a Foreign Office statement, the deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday to deliver Pakistan’s strong demarche over the deadly attack.
The attack was carried out by the Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group. “Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, along with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials in multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,” the statement said.
The interim Afghan government has been urged to fully investigate and take immediate, robust, and effective action against the perpetrators of the Bannu attack and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Islamabad reiterated its serious concerns over the presence of terrorist outfits inside Afghanistan that continue to threaten Pakistan’s security. These incidents undermine the spirit of bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.
“The Bannu Cantonment attack is yet another reminder of the serious threat posed by terrorism to regional peace and security. Pakistan reiterates the call for decisive action against terrorism and remains steadfast in its commitment to combat this menace and to uphold its security against all threats,” the statement said.
The military’s media wing had announced on Tuesday that an attempt by 10 terrorists to enter Bannu Cantonment on Monday morning was “effectively thwarted” by security forces, forcing the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the cantonment.
The statement attributed the “heinous act of terrorism” to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which operates from Afghanistan and has previously used Afghan soil to orchestrate acts of terrorism inside Pakistan.
It added that Pakistan had consistently raised its concerns with the interim Afghan government, urging it to prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorists and take effective action against such elements.
Relations between the two neighboring countries have recently become strained, largely due to the banned TTP and frequent border skirmishes.
Last month, the Afghan defense ministry’s spokesman reacted angrily to remarks by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who said Islamabad could target TTP hideouts in Afghanistan.
Leaders of the Afghanistan interim government held a meeting with Pakistani officials in Doha earlier this month to ease tensions following the announcement of a fresh operation against the banned TTP.
Zabihullah Mujahid, leader of the Afghan Taliban delegation at the Doha talks, described his meeting with Pakistani diplomats as “good” and expressed hope for developing “positive relations” with Pakistan.
The US State Department called on the Afghan Taliban to prevent the use of Afghan territory for launching attacks into Pakistan.
During a news briefing in Washington, department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that the Pakistani people had suffered greatly at the hands of violent extremists and terrorists.
“We have shared interests with the Pakistani people and the government of Pakistan in combating threats to regional security,” he said. “We continue to urge the Taliban to ensure that terrorist attacks are not launched from Afghan soil. This has been a priority in our engagements with them and continues to be.”