Islamabad demands Afghanistan to act against Pakistani terror network on its soil

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan on Sunday demanded that Afghanistan take "action" against the terror group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including its so-called leader, for its role in recent terrorist attacks in the country, including a suicide bombing of a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals in the northwestern province.

"We demand that the interim Taliban government arrest the TTP leaders, including its chief, Noor Wali Mehsud and hand them over to Pakistan in order to maintain friendly relations between the two countries," Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told a press conference in the northeastern city of Lahore, along with senior security officials.

Islamabad has long accused Kabul of failing to take action against TTP militants who allegedly hide and operate from Afghanistan. Kabul denies the accusations.

"We have requested the interim Taliban government to take action against the TTP leaders who have been planning and executing terrorist attacks from Afghanistan. But, unfortunately, nothing has been done from their (Taliban) side," Naqvi said.

"Pakistan wants good relations with Afghanistan but it cannot happen at the cost of terrorism inside Pakistan," he added.

Naqvi said 11 alleged militants were arrested in connection with the March suicide attack on a convoy of Chinese workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Shangla district.

Five Chinese nationals who were working on a power project and a Pakistani were killed in the terrorist attack.

Naqvi claimed that the attack was "planned and executed" from Afghanistan.

"Terrorists (in custody) have confessed that they and the suicide bomber were trained in Afghanistan," he charged.

Pakistan has seen an uptick in terrorist attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.