KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA:
Four security personnel embraced martyrdom when an attempt by terrorists to attack a security forces camp was foiled in the area of Boya in North Waziristan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.
“On December 19, in a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij (FAK) attacked a security forces camp in the general area Boya, North Waziristan District.”
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The military said that the terrorist attack was planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan-based khwarij and “is in contrast to assertions made by the Afghan Taliban Regime, claiming non presence of these terrorist groups operating from their soil”.
Prior information indicates that the group responsible for the attack is the Aswad-ul-Harab, Huzaifa suicide squad, affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group under the Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan conglomerate.
For more information, read: Five militants killed in North Waziristan army camp attack
The terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle “on [the] outer perimeter wall, resulting in its collapse and considerable damage to adjacent civilian infrastructure, including a mosque”.
The ISPR stated that the car bomb attack inflicted damage to nearby homes and other structures and inflicted “injuries to fifteen civilians, including women and children”.
“During the intense fire exchanges, four brave sons of soil Havildar Muhammad Waqas (age: 42 years, resident of District Kotli), Naik Khanwaiz (age: 38 years, resident of District Mansehra), Sepoy Sufyan Haider (age: 25 years, resident of District Vehari) and Sepoy Riffat (age: 32 years, resident of District Leyyah) having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,” the ISPR said.
Protest lodged
Pakistan condemned the terrorist attack on an army camp in North Waziristan district, the Foreign Office said on Friday.
In order to convey Pakistan’s serious concerns, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Foreign Office in Islamabad.
During the meeting, Pakistan conveyed its grave concern over what it described as continued support and facilitation being provided by the Afghan Taliban regime to the FAK/Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan(TTP). The Foreign Office said such support had enabled the group to carry out repeated terrorist attacks against Pakistan’s military personnel and civilian population, particularly along the Pak-Afghan border and in adjoining areas.
The Foreign Office added that the permissive environment enjoyed by the FAK/TTP inside Afghanistan was in clear contradiction of Afghanistan’s international commitments, as well as assurances given to Pakistan that Afghan soil would not be used against any other country, including Pakistan.
Pakistan demanded a full investigation into the North Waziristan attack and called for decisive action against both the perpetrators and facilitators involved in launching terrorist attacks from Afghan territory. The Afghan Taliban regime was urged to take immediate, concrete and verifiable measures against all terrorist groups operating from its soil, including action against their leadership.
The demarche also stressed the need for the Afghan authorities to deny the continued use of Afghan territory for terrorism against Pakistan. The Foreign Office reiterated that the persistence of such attacks posed a serious threat to Pakistan’s national security and undermined efforts to maintain peace and stability along the shared border.
The Afghan Taliban regime was informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens. The statement said Pakistan would take all necessary measures to respond to terrorism originating from Afghan soil.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan expected the Afghan authorities to honour their stated commitments and ensure that Afghan territory was not used by militant groups to plan or carry out attacks against Pakistan.
Islamabad emphasised that effective and verifiable action by the Afghan side was essential to address Pakistan’s security concerns and prevent further loss of life.
