ISLAMABAD(Mudassar Iqbal):Pakistan’s Demand for Action Against Bannu Attack Perpetrators, Pakistan on Friday strongly urged the Interim Afghan Government to take immediate, robust and effective action against the perpetrators of the 15 July attack at Bannu Cantonment and to prevent such attacks in the future as such attacks undermined bilateral relations and regional stability.
“We conveyed to the Afghan authorities our serious concern on the terrorist attack at Bannu Cantonment on 15 July 2024 and the continued use of Afghan territory by Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to carry out deadly attacks in Pakistan with impunity,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in her weekly press briefing.
Immediate Action Urged:
Pakistan has strongly urged the Interim Afghan Government to take immediate, robust and effective action against the perpetrators of the Bannu Cantonment attack on July 15, 2024 ¹ ².
Preventing Future Attacks:
Pakistan also demanded that the Afghan government prevent such attacks in the future, as they undermine bilateral relations and regional stability ¹ ².
Terrorist Attack:
The Bannu Cantonment attack was attributed to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operate from Afghanistan ¹ ² ³.
Regional Stability:
The presence of TTP and other terror groups in Afghanistan continues to pose a serious threat to regional peace and security ¹ ².
Pakistan’s Stance:
Pakistan remains committed to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of its people, and has consistently raised its concerns with the Afghan government
She said the Bannu Cantonment attack underscored the urgent need for Afghanistan to take concrete and effective action against terrorist sanctuaries within its borders.
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“Despite Pakistan’s repeated calls for action, the presence of TTP and other terror groups in Afghanistan continues to pose a serious threat to regional peace and security,” she said adding “We urge Afghanistan to take effective action against these groups and to ensure that the Afghan territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan. Pakistan remains committed to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of its people”.
Pakistan also strongly condemned the dastardly terror attack of the 9th of Moharram on Imam Bargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Muscat, Oman that resulted in six deaths including four Pakistani nationals.
The attack on peaceful civilians in a mosque during the holy month of Moharram in the peaceful city of Muscat is reprehensible and inhumane. Such acts of terrorism and violence against peaceful civilians cannot be condoned on any grounds whatsoever, the FO spokesperson said.
She emphasized that Pakistan condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. This attack demonstrates the persistent threat of terrorism posed by terrorist organizations in the region. It is also a reminder of the importance to work together to fight these terrorist entities and to find common solutions to root out this menace from the region.
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Oman as they contend with this tragedy. Pakistan has offered all possible assistance to Omani authorities in the investigation and in bringing to justice those responsible for this heinous crime in this holy month of Muharram,” she added.
