Pakistan issues demarche to Afghanistan after 11 soldiers martyred in Bajaur attack

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued a formal demarche to the Afghan Taliban regime over the alleged use of Afghan soil for a deadly terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district that left 11 security personnel martyred, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Thursday.

According to a statement, the demarche was conveyed on Wednesday when the FO summoned the Afghan deputy head of mission in Islamabad.

“Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the vehicle-borne suicide terrorist attack followed by a fire raid on Pakistan military and law enforcement agencies’ posts in Bajaur, carried out by Fitna al Khawarij [or] the TTP,” the statement said.

The term Fitna al Khawarij is used by the state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The FO expressed serious concern that the group’s leadership was based in Afghanistan and alleged that it continued to operate with impunity from Afghan territory. It noted that Pakistan had received repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban authorities but regretted the absence of “visible or concrete actions."

“The Afghan Taliban regime has been told to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terror groups operating from its territory, including their leadership,” the statement added.

Pakistan also “categorically informed” Kabul that it reserved the right to respond and eliminate TTP militants and their affiliates wherever they were located to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking during a visit to Berlin, said Islamabad would not hesitate to conduct air operations inside Afghanistan if necessary to counter militancy. He described the current instability as the “price we are paying” for decisions taken during the 1980s and after the Sept 11 attacks.

According to reports, Asif accused the Afghan Taliban regime of waging a “proxy war” alongside India against Pakistan’s interests and said military action would remain an option until Kabul provided meaningful assurances of peace.

The attack in Bajaur occurred on Monday when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a checkpost, followed by a gun assault, according to the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The statement said 11 security personnel were martyred, while 12 militants were killed in retaliatory action.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and extended condolences to the families of the martyrs.

In late December, Pakistan had also issued a similar demarche to Afghanistan following a deadly assault on a military camp in North Waziristan, urging Kabul to curb militant groups operating from its territory.