Pakistan asked the Afghan government to secure the Pak-Afghan border region
Cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan have been on the rise in the past few months and Pakistani security forces are being frequently targeted from across the border. Islamabad claims that regular attacks are being carried out by militant groups operating from across the border.
Pakistan has asked the government of Afghanistan to secure the Pak- Afghan border region and “take stern actions against the individuals involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan, in the interest of peace and progress of the two brotherly countries.”
Pakistan Foreign Office statement said that “Terrorists are using Afghan soil with impunity to carry out activities inside Pakistan,” adding that “Pakistan has repeatedly requested Afghan Government in last few months to secure Pak-Afghan border region.”
Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have been engaged for past several months through institutional channels for effective coordination and security along our long shared border. “Unfortunately, elements of banned terrorist groups in the border region, including TTP, have continued to attack Pakistan’s border security posts, resulting in the martyrdom of several Pakistani troops.”
On April 14, seven Pakistan Army soldiers were killed in North Waziristan District by terrorists operating from Afghanistan when the militants ambushed a military convoy near the border in the general area of Isham, North Waziristan District.
“Pakistan, once again, strongly condemns terrorists operating with impunity from Afghan soil to carry out activities in Pakistan. This is detrimental to our efforts of maintaining peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border,” the official statement said.
At the same time, Pakistan also reaffirmed respect for Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Pakistan will continue to work closely with Afghan Government to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields.”
The statement from Islamabad follows claims by the Taliban government which accused Pakistan of launching cross-border military raids in eastern regions of Khost and Kunar, which reportedly caused dozens of civilian casualties. Taliban claimed that at least 45 civilians had been killed, including children, in the air assaults.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the airstrikes, and Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul denied the country had carried them out.