Following a surge in deadly attacks originating from Afghanistan, Pakistan's top military official has issued a stern warning to the Afghan Taliban. General Asim Munir, the army chief, demanded that the Taliban prevent militants from using Afghan territory to launch cross-border assaults.
This strong statement comes in the wake of two separate attacks in Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan province this week, resulting in the deaths of 12 Pakistani soldiers. Seven attackers were also killed in the ensuing clashes. While responsibility for one attack was claimed by Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan, a relatively new militant group, the perpetrators of the second attack remain unidentified. Both the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State group are known to operate within the region.
General Munir expressed serious concerns regarding the safe havens and operational freedom enjoyed by the Pakistani Taliban within Afghanistan. He emphasized the expectation that the Afghan Taliban uphold their commitments under the 2020 agreement with the United States, which prohibits the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities. A failure to address this issue, Munir warned, would provoke a decisive response from Pakistan's armed forces.
The volatile Baluchistan province, rich in natural gas resources, has long been a battleground for various factions. In addition to the Pakistani Taliban and IS militants, Baluch separatist groups have maintained a persistent insurgency in the area for two decades, initially demanding greater control over resources and later advocating for complete independence. The Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks targeting Pakistani security forces in the province. The TTP's activities have intensified since the Afghan Taliban's return to power in 2021.
