The Foreign Office of Pakistan confirmed on Monday carrying out air strikes against terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
The operation, conducted based on secret intelligence, targeted the hideouts of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the notorious Hafiz Gul Bahadur group.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, Pakistan's air operations were meticulously planned to root out the terrorist elements responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistani territory, resulting in the loss of lives of civilians and law enforcement personnel.
The recent attack on a security post in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, which claimed the lives of seven Pakistani soldiers on March 16, 2024, served as a catalyst for the operation.
Expressing grave concerns over the presence of terrorist outfits, including TTP, within Afghanistan, Pakistan has consistently urged the Afghan authorities to take decisive action against these groups.
The use of Afghan soil as a staging ground for terrorist activities against Pakistan has long been a pressing issue for Pakistani authorities, who emphasize the importance of mutual cooperation in combating terrorism.
Pakistan, while reiterating its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, has called upon the interim Afghan government to deny safe havens to TTP and hand over its leadership to Pakistan. The nation emphasizes the need for dialogue and cooperation to confront the common threat posed by terrorist organizations.
Highlighting the historic support extended by Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan, the Foreign Office condemned elements within the Afghan power structure for patronizing TTP and using them as proxies against Pakistan.
Such actions, Pakistan asserts, undermine the longstanding brotherly relations between the two nations and disregard Pakistan's contributions to Afghanistan's stability and development over the decades.
Terrorist groups like TTP pose a collective threat to regional peace and security, necessitating joint efforts by Pakistan and Afghanistan to counter this menace. Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to working towards finding collaborative solutions to combat terrorism and prevent any disruption to bilateral relations with Afghanistan.
