The Afghan defense ministry dismissed Pakistan’s assertion that the scheme to target five Chinese engineers in the Bisham attack originated in Afghanistan.
This rebuttal follows remarks by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif, who claimed that the attack’s planning took place in Afghanistan and that the suicide bomber was of Afghan nationality.
“The ISPR DG asserted that terrorists and their supporters operated from Afghanistan, with the suicide bomber being Afghan,” the statement read.
He also cited previous terrorist incidents, attributing them to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which he claimed persisted from Afghan territory despite repeated complaints to Afghan authorities.
The suicide bombing on March 26 resulted in the deaths of five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver as they were traveling between Islamabad and a hydroelectric dam construction site in KP’s Dasu, near Bisham city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district.
China called for a comprehensive investigation into the attack and enhanced security measures for its citizens. In response, Islamabad pledged a prompt investigation to hold those responsible accountable and took action against five senior police officials after forming a joint investigation team.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Chinese nationals.
In a statement released today, Afghan defense ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarazmi dismissed the allegations as “irresponsible and detached from reality.”
He argued that attributing such incidents to Afghanistan was an “unsuccessful attempt to divert attention from the truth,” emphasizing that the attack’s occurrence in an area under tight Pakistani army security highlighted Pakistani security agencies’ weaknesses.
Khwarazmi asserted that the Taliban assured China of their non-involvement and accused the Islamic State (IS) of infiltrating Afghanistan from Pakistan, urging Pakistan to address this issue.
He emphasized Kabul’s commitment to Pakistan’s stability and security, advocating for strong bilateral relations.
Some experts warn that public accusations by officials from both countries could exacerbate tensions.
Former Pakistani Ambassador Ayaz Wazir cautioned against a blame game, advocating for dialogue to address mutual concerns, including the presence of TTP in Afghanistan.
Wazir, who has experience in Afghan diplomacy, stressed the importance of focusing on security challenges without attributing incidents to neighboring governments.
The exchange of verbal accusations underscores the strained relations between the two countries, despite existing communication channels, including a joint border coordination committee.
