Following attacks on security personnel in Pakistan, the US State Department on Tuesday urged the Afghan Taliban to ensure that the terrorist attacks are not launched from their soil.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said this in response to a query seeking his comments on a recent terrorist attack in which seven people, including two security forces personnel and five civilians, including children, were martyred in Dera Ismail Khan.
The security personnel were martyred in an hours-long exchange of fire with the terrorists, and again, these are terrorists coming from the “safe haven in Afghanistan”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
“On the night between July 15 and 16, the terrorists carried out a cowardly attack on the Rural Health Center (RHC), Kirri Shamozai in the Dera Ismail Khan District and opened indiscriminate fire on RHC staff.”
Addressing a news briefing, Miller said: “We do continue to urge the Taliban to ensure that terrorist attacks are not launched from the Afghan soil.”
The spokesperson said that it had been a priority for the US in engagements with them, and it continues to be.
He reiterated that the Pakistani people have suffered greatly at the hands of violent extremists and terrorists.
“We have a shared interest with the Pakistani people and the government of Pakistan in combating threats to regional security.”
It is pertinent to mention here that it was the second terrorist attack in a period of 24 hours as eight soldiers were martyred while trying to foil a terrorist infiltration into Bannu Cantonment in the wee hours of July 15.
