Pakistan urges Afghanistan to hand over militants behind Dasu attack on Chinese nationals
The Pakistani Interior Minister said on Sunday that the Pehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)were responsible for the murder of five Chinese engineers in Pakistan.
Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistani interior minister called on the Afghan Taliban to “maintain friendly relations” with Islamabad by handing over the Pakistani Taliban leaders, including Noor Wali Mehsud, to Pakistan.
On March 26, a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in the Bisham area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing six people, including five Chinese engineers.
In a press conference in Lahore, the Pakistani Interior Minister addressed the Taliban: “We request the interim Taliban government to arrest and hand over the leaders of the Pakistani Taliban, including Noor Wali Mehsud, to Pakistan to maintain the friendly relations between the two countries.”
The Taliban have rejected Islamabad’s request to expel and hand over the Pakistani Taliban leaders and members. Moreover, while hosting the TTP, the Taliban have denied responsibility for the Pakistani Taliban’s militant activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the group as an internal issue of Pakistan.
Naqvi stated that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was behind the attack on Chinese citizens in Bisham, and the involved terrorists have been arrested.
He said, “We have undeniable evidence in this matter.”
Naqvi warned that “terrorists are exploiting the weaknesses of Afghanistan’s Taliban government and creating security problems for Pakistan from across the border.”
In light of these attacks, the Pakistani Interior Minister said that they have intensified monitoring of the borders between the two countries.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, insecurity and militant attacks have increased in Pakistan, deteriorating relations between the two sides.
As a result, Pakistani officials have escalated the forced deportation of Afghan refugees since October last year. This move has been seen as a response to the rising tensions and security concerns.
The forced deportations are occurring amid a dire humanitarian situation, adding to the challenges faced by Afghan refugees and straining the already fragile relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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