Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan on Friday formally lodged a strong protest with the Afghan Taliban after a deadly militant assault on a military camp in North Waziristan.
The Foreign Office said four Pakistani security personnel were killed when terrorists attempted to storm a security forces camp in the Boya area of North Waziristan district. The attack was repelled, but resulted in casualties among the troops.
In an official statement, Islamabad said the assailants belonged to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction, which operates under the umbrella of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
To convey Pakistan’s concerns, the Afghan Taliban’s deputy head of mission in Islamabad was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where a formal demarche was handed over.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan expressed grave concern over what it described as continued support and facilitation by the Afghan Taliban for militant groups, including the TTP and its affiliates, enabling them to launch attacks against Pakistani military personnel and civilians, particularly along the border regions.
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Islamabad said the presence and freedom of movement enjoyed by what it refers to as Fitna-al-Khawarij militants inside Afghanistan contradicts commitments made by Kabul to Pakistan and the broader international community. The term is used by the Pakistani state for members of the outlawed TTP.
Pakistan demanded a thorough investigation into the North Waziristan attack and called for decisive action against those responsible, as well as their facilitators. The Foreign Office also urged the Afghan authorities to take immediate, concrete, and verifiable steps against all militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including action against their leadership.
Warning of serious consequences, Islamabad said it reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens, and would take all necessary measures to respond to terrorism originating from across the border.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated in recent months, largely over Islamabad’s position that TTP militants continue to find sanctuary in Afghanistan. While Pakistan has repeatedly urged Kabul to take action against cross-border militancy, the Afghan Taliban have consistently denied allowing their territory to be used for attacks on Pakistan.
Following border clashes in October, both sides entered a dialogue process aimed at easing tensions and establishing mechanisms for long-term stability. The second round of talks, held in Istanbul on October 25, ended without progress, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar later saying no workable solution had emerged.
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Mediation efforts by Turkiye and Qatar briefly revived the process, leading to a joint statement issued by Ankara on October 31 indicating that further modalities would be discussed at a higher-level meeting. However, after a third round of talks on November 7, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared that negotiations on cross-border terrorism had stalled indefinitely due to deep disagreements.
