WASHINGTON: The United States (US) has called on Afghan Taliban to ensure that terrorist attacks against Pakistan are not launched from Afghanistan.
Responding to a question, on Pakistan’s “intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations” inside the border regions of Afghanistan, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said that Washington “deeply” regrets the loss of life and “injustices” sustained during a terrorist attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to APP, seven Pakistani security personnel were killed in the terrorist attack at a security post in Mir Ali, North Waziristan on Saturday.
The spokesperson said, “We ask the Taliban to ensure that terrorist assaults are not launched from Afghanistan and we urge Islamabad to exercise restraint and ensure civilians are not harmed in their counter-terrorism efforts.”
Washington Asks Taliban to Stop Terrorist Attacks Against Pakistan from Afghanistan
He further said, “And we ask both sides to address any differences. We remain committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who wish to harm the US, our partners and allies.”
Earlier, the U.N. Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team stated in a report that al-Qaida operatives were increasingly helping banned TTP militants to launch cross-border assaults. And some ruling Taliban members have joined banned TTP, the report said.
According to the U.N. report, “Besides supplying arms and equipment, Afghan Taliban rank and file, al-Qaida core…. helped TTP forces in cross-border assaults… Some Taliban members have also joined TTP, perceiving a religious obligation to provide help.”
APP reported that Pakistan’s special representative to Afghanistan Asif Durrani told a seminar in Islamabad last week that up to 6,000 TTP fighters are taking refuge in the neighboring country. _APP
