QUETTA/ISLAMABAD: Following a devastating terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan claiming the lives of 23 Pakistan Army soldiers, Balochistan’s caretaker Information Minister, Jan Achakzai, has suggested a range of counterterrorism actions.
Among the proposals is offering the United States access to drone bases to target militant hideouts in Afghanistan and border closure. Achakzai presented these measures on his social media account on Wednesday. He emphasized that merely issuing a demarche to the Afghan government isn’t sufficient and advocating for stricter actions.
In the deadliest assault on security forces this year, militants from Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) attacked a military compound in Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the martyrdom of 23 soldiers and injuries to over 30 troops.
Additionally, separate military operations in Darazinda and Kolachi claimed the lives of 21 militants and two soldiers.
The TJP claimed responsibility for the attack and circulated a video allegedly depicting the assault on security personnel using thermal scopes.
However, security officials disputed the video’s authenticity.
Subsequently, Pakistan demanded immediate and verifiable actions from the Afghan government against militant groups causing unrest within Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary stressed the need for a thorough investigation and decisive action against the attackers, urging action against all terrorist factions, including extradition of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders from Afghanistan.
Responding to the recent terror incident, Achakzai condemned the breach of Pakistan’s national security redlines.
He proposed seven measures, including potential retaliatory strikes in Afghanistan, targeted operations, border closures, repatriation of Afghan refugees, and anti-TTP political opposition gatherings in Islamabad.
Furthermore, he advocated offering US drone bases to target Al Qaeda and other militant hideouts in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need to convey a strong message to the Afghan Taliban: “We will not tolerate this duplicity any longer.”
