Pakistan Accuses Afghanistan of Involvement in Deadly Suicide Attack

Islamabad. Following a deadly suicide attack in Pakistan's northwestern region, Islamabad has made serious accusations against Afghanistan and summoned the country's top diplomat. Pakistan claims to have concluded that the attack was systematically planned by terrorist groups sheltered in Afghanistan. This incident signals a further cooling of already tense Pakistan-Afghan relations.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement released on Monday that the Afghan acting ambassador was summoned to the ministry to formally lodge a protest. According to the ministry, a detailed investigation of the incident, collected evidence, and technical intelligence information indicate that the attack was planned by terrorists based in Afghanistan.

At least 15 people were killed in the attack that occurred on Saturday in the Bannu area of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to officials, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at a security checkpoint, after which armed groups immediately opened fire on the police.

A senior administrative official from the Bannu area, which is close to the Afghan border, said the attack was highly planned and carried out with high-level preparation. Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, he informed that the terrorists involved in the attack also used quadcopters carrying heavy weapons.

According to him, more than 100 militants were involved in the attack. Following the incident, the US Embassy in Islamabad also reacted. The embassy expressed deep sorrow over the violent incident in Bannu via social media platform X, stating that Pakistani citizens deserve a safe, peaceful future free from terrorist violence.

In recent years, Bannu, a border area of Pakistan, has become one of the major centers of terrorist activities. Especially after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, Pakistan has been alleging an increase in cross-border attacks and armed activities.

However, the Taliban government of Afghanistan has consistently denied Pakistan's accusations. Kabul claims that Afghan territory is not being used by any terrorist group and states that the accusations made by Pakistan are politically motivated.

In recent months, relations between the two countries have become even more tense. The situation has become more sensitive due to frequent clashes in the border areas, Pakistani airstrikes, and mutual accusations. In some incidents, direct armed confrontations have also occurred between the two sides.

Analysts say that the public accusations made by Pakistan against Afghanistan after the Bannu attack could further complicate the regional security situation. They indicate a deepening crisis of trust between the two countries, especially on issues of cross-border terrorism, refugee problems, and security cooperation.