Pakistan has strongly condemned the deadly attack on civilians and police personnel offering Friday prayers at the Kohat Police Lines and renewed its allegations that militant networks are operating from Afghan territory.
The attack involved an explosives-laden vehicle detonating near a mosque inside the Old Police Lines, followed by an assault on the police compound. Pakistani authorities said security forces subsequently completed a clearance operation in which eight attackers were killed.
Pakistan Raises Concerns Over Afghan Territory
Pakistan said it has repeatedly raised concerns with the Afghan Taliban authorities over what it describes as the use of Afghan territory by Fitna al-Khawarij and other militant groups to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Islamabad said the presence of militant sanctuaries, recruitment networks and support infrastructure in Afghanistan represents a security concern for Pakistan and called on the Afghan Taliban to take action against such networks.
Pakistan’s state broadcaster reported that authorities had identified the suicide bomber involved in the Kohat attack as an Afghan national. The broadcaster presented the identification as evidence supporting Islamabad’s allegation that Afghan territory is being used for militant activity.
Dispute Over Taliban’s Response
The statement came amid an increasingly tense exchange between Islamabad and Kabul.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has rejected Pakistan’s accusations that Afghan territory is being used to launch attacks against Pakistan. In an interview with Al Arabiya English, he warned that Afghanistan would respond if Pakistan carried out military action inside Afghan territory, describing such a response as “crushing.”
Mujahid has also said Kabul does not support armed groups targeting other countries and has called for dialogue and greater intelligence-sharing between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Pakistan, meanwhile, said the Afghan Taliban should take what it described as credible, verifiable and sustained measures against militant sanctuaries, recruitment and training networks.
Calls for Concrete Counterterrorism Measures
Pakistan said it had noted the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ condemnation of the Kohat attack and its expression of sympathy for the victims’ families. Islamabad, however, said it expected condemnation to be accompanied by concrete action against militant groups.
The Pakistani position is that Afghan authorities should prevent their territory from being used to plan, facilitate or launch attacks against Pakistan.
The Afghan Taliban has disputed Islamabad’s allegations, making the issue part of the broader security and diplomatic dispute between the two neighbouring countries. Independent reporting has likewise noted that Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of allowing TTP-linked militants to operate from Afghan territory, while Kabul rejects those allegations.
Pakistan Says It Will Protect Its Territory
Pakistan said it remains committed to dialogue and engagement with the Afghan Taliban but would take measures it considers necessary to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty.
The latest exchange follows the completion of the Kohat Police Lines clearance operation. Pakistani officials said eight attackers were killed after security forces, including police, CTD and military personnel, cleared the compound following an overnight operation.
The attack has further intensified tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy, with both sides continuing to exchange accusations while also discussing possible diplomatic mechanisms to address their security concerns.