Islamabad, May 12:
Pakistan on Monday summoned the Afghan Charge d’Affaires and issued a strong diplomatic protest over a deadly suicide attack carried out by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, killed at least 15 security personnel and injured several others.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that investigations, technical intelligence and evidence collected after the attack indicated that it had been masterminded by terrorists operating from Afghanistan.
Islamabad conveyed its “grave concern” over the continued use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities against Pakistan and warned that it reserved the right to respond decisively against those responsible for the assault.
The Foreign Office also referred to reports by the UN Monitoring Team and other international organisations documenting the presence of militant groups on Afghan soil.
Pakistan urged the Afghan Taliban government to honour its commitments and prevent its territory from being used for attacks against neighbouring countries.
Islamabad said it had repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to take concrete and verifiable action against the TTP, ISKP/Daesh and other militant outfits.
However, Pakistan claimed that Kabul had failed to take meaningful steps despite several rounds of talks.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have become increasingly strained due to rising militant attacks and recurring border tensions since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.