Pakistan Again Blames Afghanistan for Kohat Attack
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has once again claimed that the source of the recent attack in Kohat was in Afghanistan, saying that condemnation of attacks must be followed by practical action.
Referring to a statement by the Taliban administration’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemning the attack, the ministry said in part: “We strongly condemn the recent attack on civilians and police officials who were performing Friday prayers in Kohat. This attack was carried out by elements with roots in Afghanistan.”
At the same time, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s army, told Arab News, referring to the Doha agreement, that the Taliban administration had committed itself to countering terrorism and must remain bound by that commitment. He warned that if the commitment was not implemented, Pakistan would retain its “right to self-defence” and, in his words, would take any necessary steps to resolve the issue.
In response to these allegations, Aziz Maraj, a former diplomat, said the Taliban administration should act decisively on the matter and formally ask Pakistan to provide evidence and documents. He added that if no proof is provided, Pakistan should be taken to the International Court of Justice to protect Afghanistan’s dignity.
The Taliban administration has so far not issued a new response to Pakistan’s latest claim. However, officials of the administration have previously said repeatedly that Afghan soil is not used against any country and that no group has been allowed to operate in the country.
Kohat is a city in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a region that has witnessed deadly attacks repeatedly in recent years and has also frequently been mentioned in security tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
