Pakistan on Monday summoned the Afghan chargé d'affaires and lodged a strong diplomatic protest over the recent terrorist attack in Karachi, saying the involvement of Afghan nationals in the incident reinforced its longstanding concerns that Afghan soil continues to be used to orchestrate terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the Afghan chargé d'affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday night, where a strong demarche was issued regarding the Karachi terrorist attack.
Demarche Conveyed to Afghan Authorities in Kabul
The spokesperson said a similar demarche was also conveyed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. Andrabi said the diplomatic protests were issued in light of the participation of Afghan nationals in the Karachi attack, including one suspect who was apprehended alive during the operation.
“The demarches were issued in light of the fact that Afghan nationals, including one apprehended alive, participated in this attack, proving yet again that Afghan soil and Afghan nationals continue to be used to orchestrate terrorist attacks inside Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.
Pakistan’s Repeated Concerns Over Afghan Soil
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concern over the use of Afghan territory by militant groups to launch cross-border attacks and has urged the Afghan authorities to take effective measures against terrorist organisations operating from their soil. The latest demarche comes amid heightened security concerns following the Karachi terrorist attack and reflects Islamabad’s continued demand that the Afghan authorities prevent their territory from being used for activities that threaten Pakistan’s security and stability.
Details of the Karachi Attack
Earlier, on June 27, a terrorist attack was carried out on a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Camp in Karachi by Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy, Jamaat ul Ahrar. The assailants, after a blast at the main gate of the Camp, attempted to breach the perimeter security, however, their nefarious designs were decisively foiled by the vigilant and resolute response of Rangers troops eliminating three Kharjis and capturing one Kharji, who is an Afghan national, in injured condition, a military statement said.
“During fire exchange, three brave sons of soil, rendered the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) in the line of duty, while 4 soldiers are injured,” the statement added.
Security Forces Kill 29 Terrorists in Border Operations
Security forces have killed 29 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation and subsequent precision strikes targeting terrorist camps and safe havens in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. In a post on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the operation was launched in response to multiple militant attacks across the country. He also shared footage of Pakistani strikes targeting terrorist camps in Afghanistan. He said the operation was followed by calibrated strikes in the border region against the hideouts and safe havens of terrorists belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al Khwarij, killing twenty nine of them.
Details of the Ground Operation
Giving details, Attaullah Tarar said security forces conducted an intelligence-based ground operation against a group of terrorists near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a result of precise and skillful engagement, high value Kharji Commander Khan Farosh aka Zabal along with three terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Jamaat ul Ahrar were killed while several others were injured.
Precision Strikes on Terrorist Camps
In continuation of Operation Ghazb Lil Haq, based on credible intelligence, precise targeting of terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar and Fitna al Khwarij were also carried out on the night of 28th and 29th June, in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Three targets in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar were destroyed during precision strikes killing twenty five terrorists. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition stored at these hideouts were also destroyed.
The Information Minister further said that Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time it shall not compromise on the safety and security of its citizens.
