India has strongly condemned Pakistan's attempt to implicate it in a suicide attack that occurred in Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 13 security personnel and injuries to 24 others. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed the Pakistan Army's statement blaming India, rejecting it outright with contempt.
The MEA stated, "We have seen an official statement by the Pakistan Army seeking to blame India for the attack in Waziristan on 28 June. We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves". A senior government source added that this is yet another effort by Pakistan to externalize its internal problems. India has consistently maintained that Pakistan should focus on tackling terrorism within its own borders rather than making unfounded accusations against its neighbors.
The statement from India came in response to an official communication from the Pakistani military, issued shortly after a deadly suicide bombing in North Waziristan. In the attack, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a military convoy, killing at least 13 Pakistani soldiers. A local government official reported that 19 civilians were also injured in the blast. The attack was claimed by the suicide bomber unit of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, a faction affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban.
Since the Taliban's return to power in Kabul in 2021, Pakistan has experienced a significant surge in violence along its border with Afghanistan. Islamabad has accused Kabul of harboring militants who launch attacks on Pakistani soil.
India's rejection of Pakistan's accusations underscores the strained relationship between the two countries. Tensions have remained high, with accusations of cross-border terrorism and interference being traded between the two nations. India has previously accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist groups operating within its borders, while Pakistan has denied these charges.
The incident in Waziristan and the subsequent blame game highlight the complex security challenges facing the region. The presence of various militant groups and the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan contribute to the instability. India has called on Pakistan to take credible and irreversible action against terrorist groups operating from its soil. The MEA has characterized Pakistan's rhetoric as neither new nor credible.