Pakistan Summons Taliban’s Deputy Ambassador Over Recent TTP Attack on Army Base
On Wednesday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Taliban's deputy ambassador in Islamabad following a recent attack by forces loyal to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a commander of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan has urged the Taliban to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack and take immediate action.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The interim Afghan government has been asked to thoroughly investigate and take immediate, strong, and effective measures against the perpetrators of the Bannu attack."
The statement reiterated Pakistan's request for the Taliban to prevent the use of Afghan soil for carrying out such attacks.
"Pakistan reiterated its serious concerns about the presence of terrorist groups inside Afghanistan that continue to threaten Pakistan's security. These incidents are contrary to the spirit of bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries," the statement added.
Pakistan stated that this attack highlights the serious threat terrorism poses to regional security.
The attack by forces loyal to Hafiz Gul Bahadur on a Pakistani army base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the death of eight soldiers.
The Pakistani army has stated that Hafiz Gul Bahadur's group is based in Afghanistan and that the army will take necessary action against threats emanating from Afghanistan.
The Taliban have consistently denied any attacks against neighbouring countries originating from Afghan soil.