Pakistan summons Afghan envoy over Bannu attack, warns of decisive response

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday summoned the Afghan chargé d’affaires and delivered what the Foreign Office described as a strong demarche over the vehicle-borne IED attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu, saying the country reserved the right to act decisively against those responsible.

In an official statement, the Foreign Office said the May 9 assault was carried out by terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij and resulted in the martyrdom of 15 police personnel. Geo reported that four others, including a civilian, were injured, while Dawn reported that three police personnel were wounded.

The Foreign Office said a detailed investigation, supported by evidence collected from the scene and technical intelligence, indicated that the attack had been planned by terrorists residing in Afghanistan.

The Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to deliver a strong demarche regarding the cowardly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) attack carried out by terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij on the Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu District on May 9.

The statement said Pakistan conveyed its grave concern over the continued use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan and told the Afghan side that it must prevent militant groups from operating from its soil.

The ministry conveyed that a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence collected and technical intelligence, indicates that the attack was masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office further said the continued presence of various militant organisations in Afghanistan, and what it called a permissive environment for their operations, had been documented in reports by the United Nations Monitoring Team and other international organisations.

According to the statement, Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to take concrete and verifiable action against Fitna al Khawarij, Fitna al Hindustan, and ISKP/Daesh elements operating from Afghan soil. Pakistan had also engaged the Afghan Taliban through several rounds of talks mediated by brotherly and friendly countries, but said the Afghan Taliban had failed to commit to or deliver meaningful and verifiable action against these groups.

The fight against terrorism is a common cause, and the Afghan Taliban must honour their commitment not to allow their territory to be used for terrorism against other countries.

The Foreign Office said the Afghan Taliban regime had also been informed in categorical terms that if it continued to harbour such organisations, Pakistan would not compromise on its national security or on the safety and protection of its citizens.

Reiterating Pakistan’s grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, it was impressed upon the Afghan side that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act.

Separately, details of the attack were shared by police and administrative officials. Dawn reported that the assault took place late on Saturday night when terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police post and then launched attacks from multiple directions using heavy weapons and drones.

Bannu Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan said 18 police personnel were on duty at the post when it came under attack. He said the initial strike began with a vehicle packed with explosives, after which militants opened heavy fire and mounted a multi-pronged ground assault.

Fifteen were martyred and three sustained injuries.

the RPO said. A senior administration official in Bannu also told AFP that the attackers used quadcopters during the assault.