Pakistan military kills Afghan national involved in ‘terrorism’, returns body to Kabul

Pakistan’s military said on Tuesday that an Afghan national involved in “terrorist activities” within the country was killed earlier this month in Balochistan and was handed over to the Afghan authorities on Monday.

The relationship between Islamabad and the Taliban administration has deteriorated since the latter’s return to power in 2021. Pakistan initially supported the Taliban during the U.S. withdrawal, hoping for a cooperative regime.

However, since the Taliban's takeover, terrorist activities across Pakistan have surged. According to the Interior Ministry, 948 of the 1,566 terrorist incidents reported in the past 10 months occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in 583 deaths—two-thirds of the national toll.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which ended a fragile ceasefire with the government in late 2022, has intensified attacks on security forces and civilians in tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

In response, the government officially designated the group as Fitna al-Khawarij in July, urging the public to use the term "Khawarij" (outcasts) to describe the group.

Frustrated by the Afghan Taliban's reluctance to act against the TTP, Pakistan's military carried out airstrikes on TTP hideouts in the neighboring country.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the individual as Muhammad Khan Ahmedkhel, son of Haji Qasim Dawran Khan, a resident of Village Bilorai, District Wazekhwa, Paktika Province, Afghanistan. Ahmedkhel was killed on January 11 in the Sambaza area of Zhob district, Balochistan, according to the statement.

“Following necessary procedural formalities, his body was handed over to officials of the Interim Afghan Government (IAG) on January 20,” the ISPR said.

The military described the incident as “irrefutable evidence” of Afghan nationals’ involvement in terrorist activities within Pakistan. It urged Kabul to ensure its soil is not used for hostile actions against Pakistan.

Dangerous ideology

“This incident underscores the need for Afghanistan to fulfill its responsibilities under international agreements, such as the Doha Agreement,” security analyst Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz told Nukta.

He noted that Afghanistan remains a hub for anti-Pakistan terror groups, including TTP, which he said collaborates with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

“These groups share a dangerous ideological alignment,” Nawaz said, calling for diplomatic efforts to present evidence and engage Kabul in constructive talks. He warned that military action could harm the Pashtun population living along both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Dr Qamar Cheema, Executive Director of the Sanober Institute, highlighted the challenges posed by unrestricted movement along the border.

“Afghans share similarities in appearance, language, and history with Pakistanis, making it difficult to identify infiltrators,” Cheema said. He added that illegal businesses and mutual interests between powerful groups and locals in border regions exacerbate the problem.

The analysts emphasized the need for stricter border controls and greater regional cooperation to address cross-border terrorism effectively.