Pakistan summons Afghan mission, issues strong demarche over Bajaur attack

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday summoned the Afghan mission and issued a strong demarche to the Afghan Taliban regime over the deadly terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district that martyred 11 Pakistan Army soldiers.

“Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the vehicle-borne suicide terrorist attack, followed by a fire raid on Pakistan military and law enforcement agencies’ post in Bajaur, carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Fitna al Khwarij),” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The demarche followed the February 16 assault on a joint checkpost of security forces and law enforcement agencies. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 12 terrorists belonging to an India-backed proxy were killed, while 11 security personnel embraced martyrdom.

The Foreign Office expressed serious concern that the TTP, whose leadership is based in Afghanistan, continues to operate with impunity from Afghan soil.

It was reiterated that Pakistan has repeatedly received assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime, but, regrettably, no visible or concrete action has followed.

Pakistan urged the Taliban authorities to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from their territory, including their leadership.

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The Afghan side was also categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to respond and eliminate TTP militants and their affiliates wherever they are located to ensure the safety of its soldiers, civilians and territorial boundaries.

Pakistan has faced a sharp rise in cross-border terrorist incidents since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with KP and Balochistan particularly affected.

Earlier, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said law enforcement agencies carried out 75,175 intelligence-based operations across the country in 2025.

He said 5,397 terrorism incidents were reported nationwide last year, with the majority occurring in KP and Balochistan, while 2,597 terrorists were killed during counterterror operations.