ISLAMABAD: The For­e­ign Office said on Monday that the Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned and handed a “strong demarche” over the suicide attack in Bannu, which claimed the lives of 15 police personnel, further straining ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“The Afghan chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to deliver a strong demarche regarding the cowardly vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack carried out by terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij on the Fateh Khel police post in KP’s Bannu Dist­rict on May 9,” read an FO statement.

“The ministry conveyed that a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence collected and technical intelligence, indicates that the attack was masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan,” the FO said.

“Reiterating Pakistan’s grave con­cern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, it was impressed upon the Afghan side that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act,” the statement added.

“The fight against terrorism is a common cause, and the Afghan Taliban must honour their commitment not to allow their territory to be used for terrorism against other countries,” the statement read.

“Pakistan has also constructively engaged with the Afghan Taliban regime through several rounds of talks mediated by brotherly and friendly countries. However, [they] have consistently failed to commit to, or deliver, meaningful and verifiable action against these terrorist outfits,” it said.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026