ISLAMABAD: Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced that Pakistani forces conducted intelligence-based operations (IBOs) this morning in border regions within Afghanistan. These operations targeted terrorists who have been launching attacks in Pakistan from Afghan territory.
The primary objective of today’s mission was to target terrorists associated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which, alongside the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been accountable for numerous terrorist assaults within Pakistan. These attacks have led to the loss of lives of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement personnel. The most recent incident occurred on March 16, 2024, at a security post in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, resulting in the deaths of seven Pakistani soldiers.
For the past two years, Pakistan has consistently expressed serious concerns to the Interim Afghan Government regarding the presence of terrorist organizations, including the TTP, operating from Afghan territory. These militants pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s security and have consistently utilized Afghan soil as a base to launch attacks within Pakistani borders.
Pakistan places utmost importance on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. Hence, it has always prioritized dialogue and cooperation to address the terrorist menace. There have been continuous appeals to Afghan authorities to take decisive and effective measures to prevent their territory from being exploited for terrorist activities against Pakistan. Furthermore, Pakistan has urged Afghanistan to deny safe havens to the TTP and extradite its leadership.
While Pakistan holds great respect for the Afghan people, it is concerned about certain elements within the Afghan government that are allegedly harboring and supporting the TTP as a proxy against Pakistan. This stance is viewed as shortsighted and disregards Pakistan’s historical support for Afghanistan. Pakistan urges these elements to reconsider their policy of aligning with terrorists and instead choose to stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan.
Groups like the TTP pose a collective threat to regional peace and stability. Pakistan acknowledges the challenges faced by Afghan authorities in combating the TTP threat and pledges to collaborate in finding mutual solutions to counter-terrorism. It emphasizes the importance of preventing any terrorist organization from undermining bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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