Pakistan Summons Taliban Diplomat After Bajaur Attack
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Taliban’s deputy ambassador in Islamabad following a deadly attack in the Bajaur district, delivering a formal note of protest over what it described as the alleged use of Afghan territory in the assault.
In a statement, the ministry said it had expressed serious concern to the Taliban representative and told him that Islamabad reserves the right to respond.
Eleven Pakistani soldiers were killed in the 16 February attack in Bajaur.
The Foreign Ministry said it had conveyed its concern that the leadership of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is based in Afghanistan and operates from Afghan soil with impunity.
It urged the Taliban authorities to take immediate, concrete and verifiable action against all militant groups operating from Afghanistan.
The statement said the Afghan Taliban authorities had been firmly informed that Pakistan reserves the right to act against what it described as “Khawariji” wherever they may be, in order to ensure the security of its soldiers, civilians and borders.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that if the Taliban failed to curb militant groups, Islamabad would not hesitate to carry out further airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
