FO says ‘terrorists behind Zhob attack identified as Afghan citizens’

The Foreign Office confirmed Wednesday that the terrorists behind the Zhob Cantt attack were identified as Afghan citizens, ARY News reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson confirmed that three terrorists involved in July 12 Zhob attack were identified as Afghan citizens belonging to Kandahar province.

The FO instructed the Afghan Embassy to receive the bodies of the terrorists.

The FO expressed deep concerns and condemnation over the continued involvement of Afghan citizens in terrorist attacks in Pakistan and the use of Afghan territory for terrorism within Pakistan.

Earlier in the month, it was learnt that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists had used the weapons left by the US in Afghanistan during the attack in Balochistan’s Zhob.

Five terrorists were killed and nine Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred in a clearance operation in northern Balochistan after militants attacked launched a “dastardly attack” on the Zhob garrison.

Read more: 9 soldiers martyred, 5 terrorists killed as clearance operation in Zhob concludes

“In total, five terrorists were killed during the operation,” the ISPR said. However, it added, at least nine security personnel embraced martyrdom in the exchange of fire.

It has been revealed that the TTP terrorists donning uniforms of US soldiers, helmets, and hand gloves were equipped with the latest US weapons including M16 Assault Riffles.

In the pictures released after the clearance operation in Zhob, the terrorists can be seen dead in the uniforms of US soldiers.

The use of US weapons by the TTP terrorists has certainly raised questions that how the latest weapons, uniforms and other stuff reached the TTP terrorists.

Pakistan has seen an uptick in terror activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the outlawed TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.