The United States expresses regret over the loss of lives during the attack in Pakistan. It urges Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences. The US is currently in talks with Pakistan to discuss matters concerning Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON: On Tuesday, the United States Department of State requested the Taliban government in Afghanistan to prevent terror attacks emanating from their territory. Simultaneously, they asked Pakistan to guarantee the safety of civilians during counterterrorism operations. This comes after Pakistan conducted intelligence-based operations terror attacks) in Afghanistan’s border regions to target terrorists responsible for attacks within Pakistan.
The recent Mir Ali attack resulted in the martyrdom of seven Pakistani Army soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and captain, who bravely fought against terrorists attacking a security forces’ post in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Vedant Patel, the State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson, expressed deep regret over the loss of lives and injustices sustained during these incidents.
Patel urged both the Taliban and Pakistan to ensure that terror attacks do not originate from Afghan soil, and for Pakistan to exercise restraint and protect civilians in their counterterrorism efforts. He also emphasized the need for both parties to resolve their differences peacefully.
The Afghan Taliban asserted that two airstrikes conducted within Afghanistan by Pakistani forces resulted in the deaths of eight individuals in the conflict-ridden nation. Patel emphasized that the United States is dedicated to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a “safe haven” for terrorists seeking to harm the US or its allies once more. When asked about the US stance on Pakistani operations in Afghanistan, the spokesperson expressed concern over any civilian casualties, stating that efforts should be made to ensure those responsible are held accountable, not innocent civilians.
Additionally, the spokesperson mentioned that the US maintains frequent communication with Pakistani leaders to discuss Afghanistan in detail, including through counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations.
Pakistan consistently called upon Afghanistan to take appropriate measures
In a comprehensive statement on Monday, the Foreign Office highlighted that Pakistan has been conducting operations similar to the past two years. Islamabad has continually expressed its significant concerns to Kabul regarding the presence of terrorist groups, including the TTP, within Afghanistan. The statement emphasized that these terrorists pose a severe threat to Pakistan’s security and have consistently utilized Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistani soil.
The Foreign Office underscored Pakistan’s commitment to respecting Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while prioritizing dialogue and cooperation to tackle the terrorist issue. They emphasized their repeated requests to Afghan authorities to take decisive actions to prevent their land from being used as a base for terrorism against Pakistan. Furthermore, they called on the Afghan government to deny safe havens to TTP and to extradite its leadership to Pakistan.
The statement emphasizes Pakistan’s admiration for the Afghan people, but highlights concerns about specific influential figures in Afghanistan who are supporting the TTP and utilizing them as a tool against Pakistan. It requests these individuals to reevaluate their alliance with the Khwarij terrorists causing harm to innocent Pakistanis and instead choose to align with the nation’s people.
The statement also acknowledges the difficulties faced by Afghan authorities in dealing with the TTP threat and asserts Pakistan’s commitment to collaborating with Afghanistan in combating terrorism. Additionally, it expresses the intention to prevent any terrorist organization from jeopardizing the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
