Pakistan has expressed strong opposition to the Taliban government in Afghanistan following an attack on a military base that resulted in the death of 23 soldiers. The incident, claimed by an Islamist militant group, has raised concerns ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming elections on Feb. 8. The Pakistani foreign office summoned Kabul’s envoy, urging the Taliban administration to thoroughly investigate and take decisive action against those responsible for the attack. They also requested a public condemnation of the incident, marking one of the deadliest attacks in years.
The Taliban’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, responded to the demand, stating they would investigate if provided with details. However, he insisted the incident had no connection to Afghanistan. Pakistan contends that Islamist militants use safe havens in Afghanistan for training and executing attacks, an accusation Kabul denies, considering Pakistani security as a domestic matter.
The Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a recently emerged Pakistani Taliban group, claimed responsibility for the military base attack. The group is said to be affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a coalition of Islamist and sectarian outfits that has waged a long-standing war against the Pakistani state. Despite this, the TJP has not clarified its association with the TTP, adding to the complexities of the situation.
