Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires on Tuesday to register a “strong protest” over the martyrdom of 23 soldiers in three separate incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan.
Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a new group affiliated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack on the checkpost.
The Foreign Office (FO) released a statement affirming that the foreign secretary had urgently called in the Afghan charge d'affaires to deliver Pakistan's "strong demarche in the context of today's deadly terrorist attack" in DI Khan.
During the meeting, the Afghan charge d'affaires was requested to promptly communicate the following demands to the interim Afghan government: conduct a thorough investigation and take stern action against the perpetrators of the attack, publicly condemn the terrorist incident at the highest level.
The Afghan diplomat was also asked to implement "immediate verifiable actions" against all terrorist groups and their sanctuaries, apprehend and extradite the individuals responsible for the attack and the TTP leadership in Afghanistan to Pakistan, and adopt all necessary measures to prevent the persistent use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan.
"The events of today serve as another stark reminder of the looming terrorist threat to peace and stability in the region. It is imperative that we collectively confront this menace with unwavering determination. Pakistan, on its part, remains resolute in its commitment to combat terrorism," emphasized the FO in its statement.
