The interim Afghan government has pledged to investigate the terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan, the deadliest on security forces in Pakistan this year. The attack by militants belonging to Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) resulted in the martyrdom of at least 23 Pakistan Army soldiers and injuries to over 30 troops.
The TJP claimed responsibility for the attack, challenging assertions made by Pakistan about the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist activities.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that a group of six militants attempted to storm a security post but was foiled. The attackers then carried out a suicide bombing, resulting in a building collapse and multiple casualties.
The TJP released a video purportedly showing militants using thermal scopes, but security officials claimed the video was not authentic.
In response, the Foreign Office demanded immediate and verifiable actions from the Afghan government against militant outfits fomenting terror in Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi stressed the urgency of the situation, calling for a comprehensive investigation and decisive action against the perpetrators.
The interim Afghan government’s chief spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, stated that Kabul would investigate the attack and urged Pakistan to focus on its security.
He emphasized that the attack occurred on Pakistan’s soil, hundreds of kilometers away from Afghanistan, and highlighted that Afghanistan does not allow anyone to use its soil against Pakistan or any other country.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar denounced the attackers, stating that they were fighting a war that had already been won by the Pakistani state. Kakar vowed that the state would not back down or surrender to militants, emphasizing that the war against terrorism had been won.
