Suicide attack that killed 5 Chinese nationals was planned in Afghanistan, says Pakistan - Times of India

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NEW DELHI:

Pakistan

on Tuesday said the attack on a Chinese engineers' convoy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in March, which killed five Chinese nationals, was planned in

Afghanistan

.

"The March suicide bombing connects to Afghanistan. The planning of this terror act was done in Afghanistan. Terrorists and their facilitators were also being controlled from Afghanistan and the suicide bomber was also an Afghan [national]," said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj-Gen Ahmed.

Over the past few months, Pakistan has repeatedly criticised the Taliban regime in Kabul for helping terrorists carry out attacks targeting security personnel, and Chinese nationals working on projects linked to Beijing's crucial Belt and Road Initiative.

Speaking at a press conference, military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif strongly condemned the acts of terrorism and assured that necessary actions were being taken to bring the facilitators to justice.

Despite Pakistan's efforts for peace in the region and hosting Afghan refugees, TTP terrorists continue to launch attacks from Afghan soil, he said.

The DG added that Pakistan had presented concrete evidence to the Afghan interim government, but no positive progress has been made.

"There is concrete evidence that TTP terrorists are still using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan ... In this regard, we have registered 12 protests and the army chief has taken a clear stance that Pakistan has its reservations on hideouts of banned outfits in Afghanistan," said Sharif.

The

DG ISPR

emphasized that Pakistan will take all measures to eradicate terror networks and protect its citizens.

"Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to eradicate terror networks and provide protection to its citizens at all costs ... the purpose of the armed forces is to establish peace in the country ... to ensure this, we will go to every extent to suppress the terrorists and their patrons and enablers," said Sharif.

Pakistan recently carried out counter-attacks in Afghanistan's border areas, targeting terrorist safe havens.

The DG ISPR mentioned that in 2024, security forces have conducted 13,135 operations against terrorists and their facilitators, resulting in the elimination of 249 terrorists and the arrest of 396 others.

Pakistani forces are carrying out more than 100 operations daily against terrorism.

(With inputs from agencies)