Pakistan has conveyed to Afghanistan that it may explore other options including the use of force to stop cross-border attacks if Kabul does not take immediate steps against terrorists.
“All options, including military, are on the table… but our priority at this stage is to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels,” cautioned a senior security official, shortly after an attack on Friday afternoon at a check-post in Bajaur Agency, bordering the Afghan province of Kunar, left an FC man Abdul Qayum Bangash dead.
The senior official strongly criticised Afghan authorities for what he called ‘lack of action’ to rein in ‘terrorist sanctuaries’ on their soil. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Express Tribune that Pakistan had several times urged Afghanistan to destroy terrorist hideouts on its soil in order to ensure that operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ is successful. “Contrary to that we have now reports that Afghan authorities are facilitating terrorists to launch attacks on our side,” he added.
Although, the official would not go into details about the military option, sources said Pakistan had warned Afghanistan that it might resort to ‘hot pursuit’ to destroy Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Kunar and Nuristan provinces if Kabul failed to take appropriate steps against them.
However, a senior foreign office official insisted that Pakistan would try to resolve the issue at diplomatic levels.
FC official killed
On Friday, Pakistan launched a strong protest with Afghanistan for the second time in three days over the latest cross border attack in Bajaur. Security officials said that at around 3 pm on Friday afternoon, militants from Kunar province fired at the Ghakhai check-post and fled. Earlier, on July 30, 70 to 80 militants attacked a check-post in lower Dir, where military officials said seven militants were killed and nine injured in retaliatory fire.
“A strong protest has been lodged with the charge d’affaires of Afghanistan over another cross-border attack by terrorists on Friday. A Pakistani soldier embraced Shahadat due to sniper fire from the Afghan side of the border at a Pakistani military post near Ghakhai Pass in Bajaur Agency,” said a statement issued by the foreign ministry.
It was stressed to the charge d’affaires that the Afghan authorities must take concrete action to stop such incidents and prevent the recurrence of cross-border fire and physical attacks by terrorists operating from Afghan territory, the statement added.
Sources said the government had also decided to take up the matter at the highest level in order to avoid further escalation in tensions.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to telephone President Hamid Karzai and convey Pakistan’s concern over the increase in cross-border attacks.
In June, the prime minister sent Chief of the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Mahmood Khan Achakzai to Kabul after reports that terrorists from across the border were planning massive attacks on Pakistani posts.
Pakistan has sought Afghanistan’s cooperation ever since it launched a military offensive in North Waziristan Agency. Both the civil and military leadership have publicly stated that the ongoing operation is targeting all groups including the Haqqani Network.
However, Afghan authorities are skeptical of Pakistan’s claim and insisted that Operation Zarb-e-Azb has not targeted the Haqqani Network, which has launched some daring attacks in Afghanistan.
Some Pakistani officials feel the ongoing attacks from across the border might be linked with the current political impasse in Afghanistan. They suspect that President Karzai appears to cling to power by encouraging cross-border attacks that may jeopardise the transfer of power in Kabul.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (26)
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@Hassan:
If you Indians could do this, you would have done it long ago. But you know Pakistan is not Afghanistan
pakistan take action against terrorist who were attack on pakistani forces
@Humayun Jan: Kashmir is Hindu land taken over by Muslim invaders. It has been India for over 4000 years. Come and take it again today. We will defend it to the last man.
If pakistan does chose to enter afghanistan and unilaterally take actions it will indeed be an agreement on their part that it is infact a justified thing to do to protect the interest of their own country. India should take it positively and attack the LET camps inside pakistan to secure its own interests.
@Sameer: I find it extremely hilarious when Pakistani newspapers call Indian army Chief's warning as "aggressive" while Pakistani official's threat is considered as a warning in defense. Paki army has been playing dirty games in the region and now that they are caught in their own web they want to preach peace to others. People understand these tricks. Under your Taliban stooges, Afghanistan was destroyed and a couple of generations turned out to be nothing but militants. Now that India is building their infrastructure like roads, hospitals, parliament, schools, etc and trying to improve their life slowly, you cry foul. Amazing people. Out of all 4 neighbors you have problems. Please learn to live peacefully.
@Hassan:
There will be nuclear war. If you don't want a nuclear country to enter your territory in cross border pursuit, develop nukes. Simple.
Wow...first u created Taliban and other organizations and now blaming / threatening a poor country...shame on u Pakistan. Afghanistan sure has a place...a place better than Pakistan. You can't do anything to Afghanistan...Us is listening...Drones are coming...stop drones if you can
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Think you missed the point ... their Pakistani's that are crossing the border to attack you - not Afghan's.
@unbelievable: You definitely seem ignorant about milops planning. You just don't come across like that or run into Americans, how and where. They hardly have forces to guard big city only. Then when you go in, you tell Americans that we are coming, and that too with big force, if it has to be another salala it will be for afghans, so they better get out when pak army comes in.
I 100% support this statement. There is no justification for using Afghan soil against Pakistan. Pakistan has defended Afghans multiple times from foreign occupation, and a government which supports peace is necessary for the region. Pakistani intervention may be necessary to create peace in Afghanistan.
Kashmir has no relation to this issue as it is Muslim land occupied by a foreign anti-Muslim country by force.
Teach these Afghans such a lesson that would never dare to cross our borders.
Can anyone name a single instance when Pakistani Chest Thumping has accomplished anything other than a sore chest? You bring your military into Afghanistan and you may accidentally run into the American's and experience another Salala tragedy. Do yourselves a favor - recognize that your 12 years of providing sanctuary to the Haqqani has consequences.
What if India uses this hot pursuit as an example and try to do the same in Pakistani territory?
"The senior official strongly criticised Afghan authorities for what he called ‘lack of action’ to rein in ‘terrorist sanctuaries’ on their soil."
India has been telling the same stuff to Pakistan for years. US also says the same thing about terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan. Now Pakistan knows how the shoe bites.. Please dismantle Hafiz Saeed's LeT sanctuaries and many others from where terrorist enter India. New India army chief has also warned Pakistan about all this.
Wonderful! This is the spirit needed. Go hunt and finish the enemy, even if it requires to cross the border.
Very well. Pakistan Army should not anymore expect from Afghan govt to take any corrective measures as they are Indian puppets. Rather army should move ahead and annihilate all origins of terrorism from cross border. Enough is enough.
Afghans need to be shown their place in this world. They have become complete puppets of the Indian fools. Our seeking peace talks with India with our tails behind legs only encourages more aggression from either border. We need to put them in their place.
Look who is talking about cross border incursions, lol.