Pakistan is grappling with a severe terrorism crisis following a recent attack on the Bannu Cantonment, which resulted in the deaths of eight military personnel and numerous injuries. The assault was attributed to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, based in Afghanistan, and comes amid rising violence from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In response, Pakistan has demanded “immediate, robust, and effective action” from the interim Afghan government against these terror groups, summoning the deputy head of mission of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad for a formal protest.
Islamabad’s stance highlights the deepening concerns over the presence of terrorist groups within Afghanistan, which Pakistan claims pose a significant threat to its national security. This latest incident has reignited fears over regional peace and security, with Pakistan reiterating its calls for Kabul to curb terrorist activities on its soil.
Ironically, Pakistan’s reaction mirrors its longstanding approach to similar situations involving India. Historically, Pakistan has consistently denied or downplayed allegations of terrorism and security concerns raised by India. For years, India has issued numerous demarches and provided dossiers to Pakistan, detailing evidence of terrorist activities linked to Pakistani-based groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). These documents have often included evidence from major attacks, such as the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot Air Base attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Despite these repeated efforts, Pakistan has frequently disputed or rejected the evidence presented by India, leading to ongoing diplomatic friction and unresolved issues regarding terrorism and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
As Pakistan faces its own terrorism challenges, the parallel with India’s experience underscores a cycle of denial and diplomatic contention over the issue of terrorism. While Pakistan now seeks urgent action from Afghanistan, it remains to be seen if this will lead to a broader change in its approach towards international terrorism and the complex dynamics of regional security.
