An Afghan national affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been identified among four terrorists eliminated during a security forces operation in Kurram district, highlighting the continued presence of Afghan nationals among terrorists operating against Pakistan.
The terrorist was identified as Dr Ubaidullah Saeed Badri, an Afghan national and resident of Shahi Qila village in Logar province, Afghanistan. His father was identified as Ghulam Ghous Salehi.
According to sources, Ubaidullah Saeed Badri was affiliated with the TTP and was eliminated along with three other terrorists during a security forces operation in Kurram two days earlier.
The identification provides another indication of the cross-border dimension of terrorism affecting Pakistan, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan. The presence of Afghan nationals among terrorists operating inside Pakistan has repeatedly raised questions about the continued use of Afghan territory as a base, transit route and recruitment ground for attacks against Pakistan.
The latest identification comes only days after security forces foiled an infiltration attempt from Afghanistan in the Ghulam Khan border area. Twenty-seven terrorists were eliminated during the operation, five of whom were subsequently identified as Afghan nationals.
The repeated identification of Afghan nationals among terrorists killed while attempting to enter Pakistan or operating inside the country has further intensified concerns over assurances given by the Taliban authorities that Afghan soil would not be allowed to be used against Pakistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan Taliban administration to fulfill its commitments and prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a launching pad for attacks against neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan. The continued involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist activity inside Pakistan, however, remains a serious challenge to those assurances.
