The military has serious concerns over the convenience and freedom with which they have been

launching attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan and it said that Pakistan government expect
Afghan leaders to act. It also highlighted the involvement of Afghan nationals in the attacks.
Military’s media wing, ISPR, said in his statement that Pakistan armed forces deplore the safe
havens and liberty of action available to Afghan militants. Furthermore, he said that it is
expected that Afghan government will not allow anyone to perpetrate terror against any country
keeping in view the commitment they made in Doha conference in 2020. The ISPR’s statement
came after COAS Asim Munir visited on Friday Quetta Garrison in Baluchistan where he was
briefed about the attacks on Zhoub cantonment in Baluchistan. Nine militants were martyrdom at
the base when 5 terrorists stormed into the cantonment. The officials said that all five officers
that stormed into the base were killed in the retaliatory fire. On the same day, 3 army officers
were martyred in Sui while two militants were killed in the repost. The death tally of 12 army
officers in a single day is the highest number of soldiers killed in a single day this year. COAS
visited the officers who were injured in the attacks and paid tribute to them appreciating their
resolve and commitment. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over the cross-border terrorism
operated from Afghanistan. The ISPR also pointed to the involvement of Afghan nationals in the
act of terrorism against Pakistan. He said that it is a serious matter which is intolerable and
would elicit an effective response from Pakistani security forces. ISPR said that the military anti-
terrorist activities would continue until the menace of terrorism is rooted out from Pakistan. The
funeral prayers of the deceased soldiers were offered in their native towns having active and
retired army officers attending the funeral prayer.

RISE IN MILITANTS ATTACK

There is a constant uptick in terrorist activities since the outlawed TTP ended its ceasefire with
the government earlier this year. The terrorist activities raised from 80% to 270% since the start
of this year. KP took the brunt, which killed 174 people and injured more than 450 people.
Baluchistan reported 100 deaths and 162 injuries. Sindh reported 13 terrorist attacks with 13
deaths and injuries. Punjab reported 8 attacks killing 10 people and bruising 6 people. According
to reports, terrorists in Baluchistan capitalize on government weakness such as poor law and
order, inadequate measures of security, poor infrastructure, lack of education and awareness, and
so on.

SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS
A security official anonymously told Dawn that Baluchistan had always remained subject to
militants attacks partly because of its different geography and partly because of its poor
infrastructure. He, further, said that the inability of Afghan’s interim government has allowed
TTP to carry out its terrorist activities in Pakistan. Furthermore, he said that the TTP militants
were enjoying free havens in Afghanistan; and, had managed to get hold of sophisticated
weapons; moreover, operating in Afg. The official said that the militants who were killed in the
retaliatory fire were using M16 rifles, used by US military. He said that the militants were
wearing the uniform of US army which means that they had got hold of the arms and
ammunition left by US troops after their withdrawal from Afghanistan. Moreover, the
interference and involvement of Indian agencies cannot be overlooked, said the official.
To prevent such incidents in the future, the security force of Pakistan would continue
counterterrorism activities until the menace of terrorism is uprooted from the country. He also
said that Pakistan will discuss this issue on international forum and will ask Iran intelligence to
assist Pakistan in clearing out terrorism from Baluchistan.

AFGHAN TALIBAN REACTION

When asked to comment on the incident, Afghan interim government spokes person said that
Afghanistan would not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against any country. Furthermore, he
said that that they have made it clear time and again that they are committed to not allow anyone
to use the soil of Afghanistan against any country as they want to make Afghanistan a regional
and international hub for trade and prosperity.