ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has delivered a demarche to the Afghan interim government over a suicide attack that killed 23 Pakistani soldiers in the northwestern Pakistani district of Dera Ismail Khan, the Pakistani Foreign Office said on Tuesday.
The early morning attack took place in Daraban area of Dera Ismail Khan, where six militants targeted a military post with an explosive-laden vehicle, according to the Pakistani military.
Tuesday’s assault on the Pakistani forces was claimed by a group affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad says has sanctuaries in the neighboring Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s foreign secretary summoned the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires to the Foreign Office in Islamabad and the delivered the demarche to protest the attack.
“The Cd’A of AIG was asked to immediately convey to the Afghan Interim Government to fully investigate and take stern action against perpetrators of the recent attack,” the Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement.
Islamabad further asked the Afghan government to publicly condemn the incident “at the highest level,” take immediate action against all militant groups, and apprehend and handover to Pakistan the perpetrators of the attack and the TTP leadership in Afghanistan, according to the statement.
“Today’s terrorist attack is yet another reminder of the terrorist threat to peace and stability in the region,” it read.
“We must act resolutely with all our collective might to defeat this menace. On its part, Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to combat terrorism.”
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks in its northwestern and southwestern regions that border Afghanistan since the TTP called off its fragile truce with the government in Islamabad in November 2022.
The attacks prompted Islamabad in October to order expulsion of all illegal foreigners, mostly Afghans, which was followed by a crackdown against illegal residents across the South Asian country.
Hundreds of thousands of Afghans, many of whom had been living in Pakistan for decades, have since left the country.
Pakistan issues demarche to Afghan government over attack killing 23 soldiers
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Pakistan issues demarche to Afghan government over attack killing 23 soldiers
- The assault on Pakistani forces was claimed by a group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban
- Islamabad says the militant group has sanctuaries in Afghanistan, a charge denied by Kabul
Pakistan team creates world record for lowest target defended in first-class cricket
- PTV dismissed Sui Northern Gas for 37 while defending a target of 40, winning the President Trophy
- Previous record dated back to 1794, when England’s Oldfield defended a 41-run target against MCC
KARACHI: A Pakistan’s domestic team created a world record of defending the lowest target in all first-class cricket when they stopped the opposition in a chase of just 40 runs.
Pakistan Television (PTV), defending champions in the President Trophy, shot Sui Northern Gas (SNGPL) for a paltry 37 to win the match by a mere two runs on day three of the four-day game.
This becomes a new record in 253 years of first-class cricket, beating England’s Oldfield’s 1794 feat when they successfully defended 41 against MCC at the Lord’s Old Ground to win by six runs.
PTV’s head coach Mohammad Waseem praised his team’s historic effort.
“I am delighted with my team’s world record effort,” Waseem, a former Pakistan player, told AFP. “My team’s motto is to never give up, fight till the last ball.
“This is the not the first time, we have won all our three matches coming from well behind by remaining positive in all situations.”
The star-studded SNGPL batting led by Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood were bowled out in 19.4 overs with just one batter Saifullah Bangash crossing double figures with 14.
Masood was out without scoring while Test players, Mohammad Ali made six and spinner Sajid Khan just three.
Pakistan’s international players Omair Bin Yousuf made six and Abdul Samad five.
For the winners, left-arm spinner Ali Usman wrecked the batting with 6-9 and pacer Ammad Butt took 4-28 — the only two bowlers used in their second innings.
SNGPL’s head coach is former Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq with another former captain Azhar Ali their batting coach.
