ISLAMABAD: Following a deadly attack on a military base in Bannu, the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan has once again accused the Taliban of Afghanistan of “harboring and supporting terrorist groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).” Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, stated on social media that three out of the five suicide attackers were Afghan citizens, adding that the Taliban “celebrate with the blood of our children.” He emphasized that Pakistan has paid a heavy price for Afghanistan over the past four decades, losing hundreds of its soldiers and hosting over six million Afghan refugees. Pakistani officials reported that the attackers first detonated a vehicle bomb and then stormed the base; the clash lasted more than 12 hours, resulting in the deaths of six soldiers alongside six attackers. Islamabad has previously accused the Taliban of supporting the TTP, but the Taliban have denied these allegations. However, international bodies have confirmed the presence of approximately six thousand TTP fighters in Afghanistan. The deadly attack in Bannu is part of recent violence in Pakistan’s border regions, highlighting the complex relationship between the Taliban and the TTP.
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