Islamabad [Pakistan], February 6 (ANI): Five Pakistani soldiers were killed after terrorists inside Afghanistan opened fire on troops in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported on Sunday citing the military’s media affairs wing. “Terrorists from inside Afghanistan, across the international border, opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kurram district,” Dawn newspaper quoted the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. “As per intelligence reports, due to fire of [our] own troops, terrorists suffered heavy casualties,” the statement said.

The ISPR statement said Pakistan strongly condemns the “use of Afghan soil by terrorists” and expects that the interim Afghan government will not allow conduct of such activities against Pakistan in future, the Dawn newspaper reported. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack, the Pakistani newspaper reported.

Pakistan is witnessing a tide of violence in recent months. In recent months, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the southwestern region of the country, with recent attacks on security posts in Pakistan that resulted in the death of seven Pakistani soldiers and 13 separatists.

On Thursday, Pakistan‘s Interior Ministry issued a threat alert in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in the Panjgur and Naushki districts of Balochistan. This is the second threat alert issued in less than two weeks.

Imran govt’s patience ‘running thin’ with Taliban as terrorists use Afghan soil to kill 5 Pak soldiers

Islamabad [Pakistan], February 7 (ANI): The Imran Khan government’s patience seems to be running thin with the Taliban as terrorists used Afghan soil on Sunday to kill five Pakistani soldiers from across the border.

The patience of Pakistan — which is accused of supporting the Taliban during its advance against the previous Afghan government — with the interim Afghan government seems to be running thin as for the first time it publically condemned the use of Afghan soil against it since the Taliban takeover after its five soldiers died in the exchange of fire with terrorists from across the border on Sunday, reported The Express Tribune. “Terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border, opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kurram District,” The Express Tribune quoted Inter-Services Public Relation as saying in a statement.

Islamabad strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and “expects that interim Afghan government will not allow the conduct of such activities against Pakistan, in future,” added the ISPR in the statement.

This is the first time Islamabad officially condemned the use of Afghan soil against it under Taliban rule. On previous occasions, the Imran Khan government opted to downplay similar incidents. Even when the local Taliban soldiers tried to disrupt the border fencing, Pakistan termed it a “localised problem”, reported The Express Tribune.

The direct criticism by the Imran Khan government points that now Islamabad is running out of patience with the interim Taliban government as, despite its repeated promises, Afghan soil continued to be used by terrorists against Pakistan. Pakistan‘s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has also condemned the incident and stated the interim Taliban government should ensure that such attacks do not take place as promised.

During the recent visit of Pakistan‘s National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf to Afghanistan, the Taliban had assured that Afghan soil would not be used against any country including Pakistan. The Imran Khan government for a long time had been urging the Taliban to take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan or deny them space to operate out of Afghan soil. Even Islamabad was engaged in talks with the TTP through the Afghan Taliban. However, Islamabad maintained that those talks broke down due to the harsh demands of the TTP in recent times. After the breakdown of the talks, TTP had resumed its violent activities against Pakistan.

Pakistan is witnessing a surge of attacks in recent days and these are not limited to one area or province of the country. In the last fifteen days, Lahore, Islamabad, Balochistan’s Panjgur and Naushki areas have witnessed attacks that have claimed a number of lives.

Five Afghan pilots returned to Afghanistan: Taliban

Kabul [Afghanistan], February 6 (ANI): Five Afghan air force pilots, who left Afghanistan after the fall of the former government led by Ashraf Ghani, have returned to the country and resumed work, announced the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Sunday. “Five Afghan pilots who left country, based on propaganda, answered our call and came back to Afghanistan,” Tolo News quoted Enayatullah Khwarizmi, MoD’s spokesperson as saying.

With the fall of Ashraf Ghani‘s government, many of the experienced military and air force staff of Afghanistan fled the country to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, but no details are available about where these five pilots are returning from, Tolo News reported. “The leadership of the Ministry of Defense has consistently called on everyone to come back and serve their country,” said Khwarizmi.

In the meantime, Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, welcomed the return of Afghan pilots on Twitter, saying “Afghanistan currently needs professionals”. “Afghanistan needs everyone who is a specialist: doctors, engineers, pilots and teachers,” Tolo News quoted Sarwar Neyazai, a military expert as saying.

Citing the reports, Tolo News reported that around 140 Afghan air force pilots and personnel who were trapped in Tajikistan after leaving Afghanistan have since gone to the United States. According to Afghan media, the return of the Afghan pilots comes days after the United Nations said in a report that over 100 Afghan military forces of the previous government were killed since the Islamic Emirate came to power. However, the report was denied by the Islamic Emirate. (ANI)

50 ISIS-K terrorists surrender in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province

Kabul [Afghanistan], February 6 (ANI): At least 50 Daesh (ISIS-K) militants have surrendered to Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) forces in the eastern province of Nangarhar, local officials said on Sunday.
According to the Afghanistan government sources, terrorists surrendered following mediation efforts by tribal elders, as noted by Ariana News.

Dr. Bashir, head of Nangarhar Intelligence Directorate, said that based on an amnesty decree, Daesh militants surrendered to the Taliban government and that the process is “ongoing”.

The terrorists have also expressed remorse and said they regret having joined the group. Nangarhar’s tribal elders have, however, warned the newly surrendered terrorists that they will face harsh consequences if they rejoin Daesh. “We have brought them here; they vowed that they will not rejoin Daesh, and they regret their past actions,” said Ghulam Ali Malik, a tribal elder.

“The tribal elders said if the former terrorists rejoin Daesh, they will burn down their homes and will expel them from Afghanistan,” said Malik Zainuddin, another tribal elder. This comes after over 500 Daesh members surrendered to the Taliban regime in Nangarhar following the takeover of power in mid-August, according to Ariana News. (ANI)