- Pakistan strongly condemns Kohat attack: Information Ministry.
- Says attack perpetrated by terrorists with roots in Afghanistan.
- Kabul asked to take credible, verifiable action against terrorists.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the barbaric terrorist attack on civilians and police officials offering Friday prayers in Kohat, rebuking the Afghan Taliban regime for failing to take action against terrorist groups.
At least 22 people, including 16 police officials, were martyred and over 100 others injured after explosions targeted a mosque inside Kohat Police Lines during the prayer.
The deceased include 16 police personnel and six civilians. Among those killed was Dr Israel Khan Orakzai, Chief District Specialist at Liaquat Memorial Hospital.
Eight militants were also killed after police and security forces completed an operation following the deadly attack.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information said that the attack, perpetrated by the vilest of “Khwarij” with roots in Afghanistan, reminds us that terrorism has no religion and no justification.
Those who perpetrate, facilitate or shelter such acts are the worst among humankind, the spokesperson added.
The official further said that Pakistan has repeatedly raised grave concerns over the use of Afghan territory by “Fitna al-Khawarij” and other terrorist groups to plan and launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
“The presence of terrorist sanctuaries, alongside their recruitment and support infrastructure in Afghanistan, poses a direct threat to Pakistan’s security. These concerns have been conveyed repeatedly to the Afghan Taliban regime and their interlocutors. They must dismantle these networks rather than deflect responsibility,” read the statement.
Against this backdrop, the official said that it is reprehensible that Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has the audacity to threaten Pakistan with a “crushing response” while his regime “actively sponsors terrorism in Pakistan”.
The spokesperson said that they the Afghan Taliban must address the terrorist ecosystem thriving under their patronage instead of trying to deflect responsibility and malign Pakistan.
“Such antics cannot obscure their counterterrorism obligations under the Doha Agreement or their responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used to threaten other countries,” read the statement.
The statement further said that Pakistan has noted the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ condemnation of the Kohat attack and its expression of sympathy for the victims’ families, while omitting mention of terrorism in the statement.
“Notwithstanding, condemnation must be matched by concrete action,” the official added.
The Afghan Taliban must take credible, verifiable and sustained measures to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries, disrupt radical recruitment and training networks, and prevent terrorist groups from planning, facilitating or launching attacks against Pakistan
The ministry further said that Pakistan has consistently pursued dialogue and constructive engagement with the Afghan Taliban, but they would not allow pretence of dialogue to shield those who threaten our people.
“Pakistan has both the will and the capability to eliminate terrorist threats wherever they are and will take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson further said that Islamabad has repeatedly warned that the continued presence and activity of terrorist groups in Afghanistan will aggravate instability, with serious regional and global repercussions.
The ministry urged the international community to push the Afghan Taliban regime to act decisively and verifiably to counter this menace before the threat spreads further across the region and beyond.
