Pakistan urges ‘stern action’ by Taliban amid cross-border attacks

Pakistan has called on the Taliban authorities in Kabul to take “stern action” against militants launching attacks on Pakistan’s soil from Afghanistan.

According to Press TV, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in an ambush by an armed group near the Afghan border on April 14.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry warned Afghan officials in a statement on Sunday against harboring anti-Pakistan militants. “Pakistan, once again, strongly condemns terrorists operating with impunity from Afghan soil to carry out activities in Pakistan.”

“Pakistan requests the sovereign government of Afghanistan to secure Pak-Afghan Border region and take stern actions against the individuals involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.”

The April 14 ambush in North Waziristan was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned terrorist outfit which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

“Unfortunately, elements of banned terrorist groups in the border region, including TTP, have continued to attack Pakistan's border security posts, resulting in the martyrdom of several Pakistani troops.”

Tension erupted after five children and a woman were killed in Afghanistan’s eastern Province of Kunar on Saturday in alleged rocket attacks Taliban officials blamed on the Pakistani military.

Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has warned Pakistan over the rocket attacks. “This is a cruelty and it is paving the way for enmity between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Taliban Government Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said late on Saturday. “The Pakistani side should know that if a war starts it will not be in the interest of any side.”

Also on Saturday, Taliban officials summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul in protest over the matter.

ME