KEY POINTS
- PM Sharif said ringleaders of terrorists in Pakistan are based in Afghanistan and backed by India.
- He warned Kabul to choose between harbouring terrorists or building ties with Islamabad.
- The premier said Afghan nationals are involved in terror attacks in Pakistan.
- PM Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir visited Bannu, attended soldiers’ funerals, and met wounded troops.
- The PM vowed zero tolerance for terrorism, promising a strong response against Indian-backed proxies.
BANNU, Pakistan: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the ringleaders and facilitators of terrorists operating in the country are based in Afghanistan and are being supported by India, warning Kabul to choose between harbouring terrorists or fostering ties with Islamabad.
PM Sharif, accompanied by the country’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, visited the north-western city of Bannu to review the security situation after a recent surge in terrorist violence.
The Prime Minister and Army Chief attended a high-level meeting and joined the funeral prayers of 12 soldiers martyred during an operation in South Waziristan, according to security sources.
“The ringleaders and facilitators of terrorists operating in Pakistan are based in Afghanistan and are being supported by India,” PM Sharif said in remarks shared by officials after the meeting.
“Afghanistan has been clearly told to make a choice between harbouring foreign elements or fostering relations with Pakistan,” PM Sharif said on the occasion.
The premier added that Afghan nationals had been involved in recent terrorist attacks and insisted their “early repatriation has become inevitable.” He stressed that Pakistan would adopt “zero tolerance for ambiguity” in its fight against terrorism.
Security officials said PM Sharif and Field Marshal Munir also visited the Combined Military Hospital in Bannu, where they met with troops wounded in recent operations against terrorists.
The Peshawar corps commander briefed PM Sharif and Army Chief Munir on the security situation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has borne the brunt of recent terror attacks.
Strong Response to ‘Indian-Backed Terror Proxies’
Sharif vowed that terrorism would continue to be met with “a strong response,” warning that anyone facilitating foreign actors or “Indian-backed terror proxies” would be dealt with firmly.
“The resilient people of Pakistan, particularly those of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stand united with the state and armed forces like a solid wall against such proxies,” the premier said.
Pakistan launched a crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals in 2023, citing their involvement in cross-border terrorist activities.
The United Nations says more than 1.2 million Afghans have since returned, including over 443,000 this year alone. Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghans since 1979.
PM Sharif also dismissed “divisive politics and misleading narratives” over terrorism, saying anyone advocating for terrorist groups would be treated as their “instrument” and answered “in the same language they understood.”
Afghan Nationals’ Involvement in Terror Attacks
Earlier, the Pakistan military said on Saturday that at least 35 terrorists were killed and 12 Pakistani soldiers martyred during fierce clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The operations, carried out between September 10 and 13, took place in Bajaur and South Waziristan districts, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the terrorists, who were involved in several attacks in the region.
The military further said that Afghan nationals were involved in terror attacks and urged the interim Afghan government to prevent the use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
“Intelligence reports have unequivocally confirmed the physical involvement of Afghan Nationals in these heinous acts,” the ISPR statement added.
Pakistan has consistently called on Afghanistan’s interim authorities to take decisive action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens operating from Afghan territory. The TTP’s reliance on cross-border sanctuaries is long-standing.
Before the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021, TTP fighters would routinely flee into Afghanistan to evade Pakistani military operations.
The situation shifted after August 15, 2021, when the Afghan Taliban assumed control. Areas that had once been hostile to the TTP reportedly became safe havens, enabling terrorists to regroup and plan attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has invested heavily in securing its western border, including the construction of a 2,590-kilometre-long border fence.
Officials in Islamabad maintain that eliminating terrorist sanctuaries inside Afghanistan remains essential for regional peace and security.
