Another Afghan national killed in operation in Pakistan: army

Pakistani security forces killed an Afghan national linked to terrorism during an operation in Datta Khel, North Waziristan, announced the army's media wing on Saturday.

The individual, identified as Luqman Khan, also known as Nusrat, was the son of Kamal Khan and a resident of Spera District in Khost Province, Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities have contacted Kabul to request the return of his body.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, "Such incidents are irrefutable evidence of the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist activities in Pakistan.

The interim Afghan government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists to perpetrate acts of terrorism against Pakistan."

This incident follows a similar case in which Pakistan handed over the body of Badaruddin, the son of an Afghan deputy governor after he was killed in a counterterrorism operation in Dera Ismail Khan. Afghan authorities had initially refused to accept his body, despite repeated diplomatic efforts.

Earlier, on January 11, Pakistan’s military reported that another Afghan national, Muhammad Khan Ahmedkhel, was killed in an operation in Balochistan.

His body was handed over to Afghan authorities on January 20. The military cited this as further proof of Afghan nationals' involvement in terrorist activities, stressing the need for Kabul to ensure its territory is not used as a launching pad for attacks against Pakistan.

Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of providing a safe haven to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, whom Islamabad holds responsible for a surge in terrorist attacks since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

Islamabad has urged Kabul to take action against the TTP and other militant groups operating from Afghan soil. The increase in cross-border violence has further strained relations between the two countries, with Pakistan emphasizing that Afghan-based militant networks pose a direct threat to its security.

While Kabul denies supporting the TTP, Islamabad insists that the group continues to operate freely within Afghanistan, complicating counterterrorism efforts in the region.