ISLAMABAD: The government has formally presented its position in the Senate regarding recent air operations inside Afghanistan.
It revealed that Kabul allegedly sought Rs10 billion from Pakistan to relocate TTP fighters to another border area.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the Senate that Pakistan’s defence minister responded to Afghanistan’s demand by saying Islamabad was prepared to provide the Rs10 billion, provided there was a guarantee that cross-border interference would cease.
According to the minister, Pakistan Air Force carried out strikes on February 21 in three Afghan provinces. He said the action followed repeated requests by Pakistan urging Afghan authorities to prevent the use of their territory for attacks against Pakistan.
Chaudhry stated that recent attacks in Tralai, Bannu, and Bajaur were linked to networks operating from Afghanistan. He added that Pakistan would not remain passive in the face of continued violence and reserved the right to respond.
Security sources have claimed that more than 80 militants were killed in the air operations. The government maintains that the strikes targeted only militant hideouts and training camps.
The minister further said that attacks originating from Afghan soil had continued despite diplomatic engagement. He alleged that the perpetrators of the Tralai mosque attack were controlled by handlers based in Afghanistan, while suicide attacks in Bannu and Bajaur resulted in casualties among security personnel.
He said that Pakistan considers the action necessary for national defense and stated that operations would continue until the threat of terrorism is eliminated.
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