Key Points
- Twelve terrorists killed in foiled infiltration attempt in Kurram
- President pays tribute to soldier martyred during border operation
- Zardari urges Afghan Taliban to review policies towards terrorist groups
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday warned the Afghan Taliban regime against mistaking Pakistan’s restraint for weakness, saying the country had the capacity to eliminate infiltrating terrorists and neutralise their sponsors.
In a statement, the president said Pakistan’s patience, caution and responsible conduct should not be misinterpreted, describing such an assumption as a “grave folly”.
Zardari was responding to a security operation in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces foiled an attempted infiltration along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing 12 terrorists.
President commends security forces
The president commended the security personnel for their operational readiness and professional expertise in thwarting the infiltration attempt.
He also expressed grief over the martyrdom of Naib Subedar Hidayat Aman, who lost his life while defending the country’s borders during the operation.
Paying tribute to the soldier’s courage and sacrifice, Zardari extended condolences to his family and prayed for strength for them to bear the loss.
The president condemned the Afghan Taliban regime of continuing to patronise and facilitate terrorist elements, saying such actions posed a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
He reiterated that Pakistan was capable of not only eliminating terrorists crossing into its territory but also neutralising those supporting them.
Advising the Taliban authorities in Kabul to reconsider their approach, Zardari said a review of their policies would serve their own interests.
The statement came amid continuing Pakistani concerns over cross-border infiltration and the presence of terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan.
The latest operation in Kurram highlighted the security challenges along the border, where Pakistani forces continue to confront infiltration attempts. The president’s remarks also conveyed a warning that Islamabad’s preference for restraint should not be interpreted as a lack of capacity to respond to threats.
Pakistan’s position is that the Afghan authorities must take effective action against groups targeting the country. The Taliban administration has faced repeated Pakistani demands to address these security concerns, which remain a major source of tension between the two neighbours.
