Following the recent attack in Dera Ismail Khan, which resulted in the deaths of 23 Pakistani soldiers, the Afghan Taliban have denied involvement but expressed readiness to investigate the incident. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, speaking to Reuters, stated, “If they [Pakistan] demand an investigation, if they share details with us, we will investigate.”
The Pakistani security forces faced a significant attack on Tuesday when a militant group rammed a truck filled with explosives into a military camp. This assault led Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary to summon the Afghan interim government’s Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad, registering a strong protest over the incident.
In the aftermath, the United States, through Secretary of State Antony Blinken, condemned the attack. Blinken’s statement on a social media platform expressed condolences to the victims and support for Pakistan in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The attack, claimed by Tehreek Jihad Pakistan (TJP), occurred amidst concerns about increasing militant activities in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan regions, especially with national elections approaching on February 8th.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has demanded that the Afghan interim government conduct a thorough investigation and take action against those responsible for the attack. Pakistan’s demands also include a high-level condemnation of the attack, immediate actions against ‘terrorist’ groups, apprehension of the perpetrators, and measures to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan.