ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has identified the suicide bomber behind a deadly attack in the northwestern district of Bajaur earlier this week as an Afghan national, a security official said amid accusations against the Taliban administration in Kabul of facilitating cross-border militancy.
The Feb. 16 suicide bombing at the Malangi post in Bajaur killed two civilians and 11 security personnel, prompting Pakistan’s foreign office to summon the Afghan deputy head of mission in Islamabad on Wednesday and deliver a “strong demarche” to Kabul over the attack.
“The suicide bomber was identified as Khariji Ahmad alias Qari Abdullah Abuzar, who was a resident of Balkh province, Afghanistan,” the official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, adding the attacker was also “part of the Taliban’s special forces.”
“The involvement of Afghan citizens in terrorism in Pakistan is clear evidence of the Taliban regime’s complete patronage and facilitation of terrorists,” he added.
Pakistan, which refers to militants as “Khwarij,” has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of sheltering proscribed armed groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and of allowing them to launch attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces. Kabul denies providing safe havens to militants targeting Pakistan.
