Pakistan has lodged a formal protest, known as a demarche, against the Taliban in Afghanistan for allegedly permitting an attack on Pakistani security forces in Bajaur district. The demarche was delivered during a meeting with the Afghan deputy head of mission. The attack involved a suicide bombing and subsequent assault on Pakistani military and law enforcement posts by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group based in Afghanistan.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, referred to as Fitna al Khawarij by Pakistan, operates from Afghan territory with impunity, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Despite assurances from Afghanistan, no concrete actions have been taken to address this issue. The recent attack in Bajaur resulted in the deaths of 11 security personnel, with 12 terrorists killed in the subsequent security response.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister had accused Afghanistan of involvement in an attack in Islamabad, prompting Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defence to dismiss the allegations as baseless. The Afghan Ministry criticized Pakistan for failing to address its internal security challenges and for unjustly blaming Afghanistan for such incidents. Afghanistan emphasized the need for a more cooperative approach between the two nations to combat terrorism effectively.
