Pakistan issues demarche to Afghan diplomat over Bannu attack

The acting Afghan chargé d"affaires in Islamabad was summoned to Pakistan"s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and formally handed a demarche following a terrorist attack on a police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on May 9.

According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, cited by Report, the attack involved militants from Fitna al-Khawarij (formerly known as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or the Pakistan Taliban Movement), who used an improvised explosive device against the Fateh Khel police post in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on May 9, 2026. As a result, 15 police officers were killed and four others were injured, including one civilian.

"Detailed investigation of the incident, as well as collected evidence and technical intelligence data, indicate that the attack was planned by terrorists residing in Afghanistan," the statement said.

In this regard, Kabul"s representative was informed of Islamabad"s serious concern over the continued use of Afghan territory for terrorist attacks against Pakistan.

The Afghan side was also told that Islamabad reserves the right to respond decisively to those responsible for this barbaric act.

"Counterterrorism is a shared responsibility, and the Afghan Taliban must fulfill their commitment to prevent the use of their territory for terrorist acts against other countries," the statement added.