One civilian was killed and five members of the same family were injured after shelling hit a house in South Waziristan, according to security sources. The sources said the attack, attributed to Afghan Taliban fire, has raised concern about civilian areas being targeted along the border.
Security sources said the Pakistan Army hit back quickly and destroyed several Afghan checkposts. Pakistani troops remain on high alert along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and are ready to stop further aggression, the sources added. They said the response to the attack on civilians was still under way.
Foreign Office warns of terrorism from Afghan soil
On October 9, Pakistan warned that terrorism originating from Afghan territory is a serious threat to its own security and that of neighbouring countries. Speaking at a press briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson said attacks from Afghanistan had increased and militant groups had more room to operate. Pakistan remains committed to dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation, the spokesperson said, while stressing that terrorism is a core security concern.
Also read: Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban civilian casualty allegations · Pakistan open to Afghan talks if Kabul acts against terrorists
The spokesperson said Pakistan had given the Afghan government accurate information about where militant groups were operating. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant organisations had set up safe havens in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan, the spokesperson said.
Concerns raised in regional forums and joint statement
The spokesperson said Pakistan’s concerns about terrorism from Afghan territory had been raised in regional diplomatic forums, including the Moscow Format. Those concerns were also reflected in a joint statement issued after an earlier meeting. However, the Afghan Taliban had not agreed to keep the same language in this year’s discussions, the spokesperson said.
