Despite repeated assurances and commitments by the Afghan Taliban regime that Afghan territory would neither be used nor allowed to be used against other countries, particularly Pakistan, Afghan nationals continue to be identified among terrorists involved in attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to security sources, 48 Afghan nationals were among 200 terrorists eliminated during intelligence-based operations conducted in the two provinces over the past month.
Security sources said a total of 800 intelligence-based operations were carried out across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan during the period. The operations targeted terrorists involved in attacks and other militant activity, resulting in the elimination of 200 terrorists.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 223 intelligence-based operations were conducted in North and South Waziristan, where 62 TTP terrorists were eliminated. Of these, 16 were identified as Afghan nationals.
In Bajaur and Mohmand districts, 180 operations resulted in the elimination of 55 terrorists. Security sources said 13 of those eliminated were Afghan nationals.
Meanwhile, 160 intelligence-based operations were conducted in Khyber and Orakzai districts, resulting in the elimination of 46 terrorists. Eleven of those terrorists were identified as Afghan nationals.
In Balochistan, operations were conducted in Quetta and Pishin districts, where 37 terrorists were eliminated. Eight of them were identified as Afghan nationals.
The figures come against the backdrop of repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban that Afghan territory would not be allowed to serve as a launchpad for attacks against Pakistan.
The continued identification of Afghan nationals among terrorists eliminated during security operations in Pakistan raises questions over the effectiveness of Kabul’s assurances and its ability to prevent Afghan citizens and territory from being used in terrorist activities against Pakistan.
The figures also raise questions about the Taliban regime’s control over security and militant networks operating from or linked to Afghanistan, particularly when Afghan nationals continue to surface among terrorists targeted inside Pakistan.
