KARACHI: Pakistan’s security forces thwarted an attempted cross-border incursion by militants allegedly facilitated by Afghan Taliban authorities, security sources said on Saturday after Afghanistan’s defense ministry claimed its forces targeted several locations in Pakistan in response to airstrikes earlier this week.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and has urged Afghan officials not to allow armed factions to use their soil to target neighboring states. Afghan authorities deny these allegations, saying Pakistan’s security challenges are its internal matter.
On Thursday, Afghan authorities reported airstrikes by Pakistan’s military in an eastern border town that they said had killed 46 people. The strikes came days after the TTP claimed responsibility for killing 16 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border.
“On the night of December 27-28, 20 to 25 khawarij [TTP militants], using Afghan Taliban border posts, attempted to infiltrate Pakistan at two locations in Kurram and North Waziristan,” Pakistani security sources said. “Pakistani forces acted promptly, thwarting the incursion.”
They reported yet another incursion in the morning, saying it was also repelled.
“In retaliation, khawarij and Afghan Taliban jointly opened unprovoked heavy fire on Pakistani posts,” they added.
Pakistan’s forces responded decisively, reportedly inflicting significant losses on the attackers.
“Initial reports indicate that over 15 khawarij and Afghan Taliban personnel were killed, with many others injured,” the sources said. “Effective counter-fire forced the Afghan Taliban to abandon six posts.”
No fatalities were reported on the Pakistani side, though three soldiers sustained injuries. Security sources also noted Afghanistan’s unwillingness to control TTP elements operating freely on its soil, saying it strained bilateral relations.
“Instead of curbing these terrorist elements, the Afghan Taliban persistently assist them,” the sources maintain. “TTP militants operate with impunity in Afghanistan, using its territory for anti-Pakistan activities.”
Pakistan repels Afghan-based militant incursion amid escalating tensions — security sources
https://arab.news/r3crr
Pakistan repels Afghan-based militant incursion amid escalating tensions — security sources
- Sources accuse Afghan Taliban of ‘persistently assisting’ armed militants instead of apprehending them
- They say no fatalities happened on Pakistan’s side, but over 15 militants and Afghan Taliban were killed
Indonesian president to visit Pakistan next week to strengthen defense, investment ties
- President Prabovo Subianto to arrive with high-level delegation of ministers in Pakistan on Dec. 8-9
- Several agreements to be signed during President Subianto’s visit, says Pakistan’s foreign ministry
ISLAMABAD: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit Pakistan on Dec. 8-9 to explore avenues to enhance bilateral cooperation with Islamabad in trade, defense, investment, health, education and other sectors, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with Indonesia, with diplomatic relations between the two countries established in 1950. The volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Indonesia surged to $2.6 billion in 2020, as per official data.
Subianto, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising key ministers and senior officials, will mark his maiden visit to Pakistan. The last Indonesian president to visit Pakistan was in 2018 when Joko Widodo arrived in the country.
“The two sides will discuss a wide-ranging agenda aimed at further strengthening Pakistan-Indonesia relations and exploring new avenues of cooperation, including trade, investment, defense, health, IT, climate, education and culture, as well as enhancing collaboration at regional and global levels,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
“Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit.”
During his visit, Subianto will hold delegation-level talks with Pakistan’s prime minister and meet the country’s president and chief of defense forces.
“The visit of President Prabowo will provide an important opportunity to deepen bilateral ties and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, contributing to the continued growth and diversification of the partnership between the two countries,” the foreign ministry said.
Indonesia is also home to a few hundred Pakistani expatriates, many of whom are engaged in businesses such as restaurants, hand-knotted carpets, precious stones, textile items, and herbal medicines.
