Afghan Forces hunt-down Daesh militants behind Pakistan Embassy attack

KABUL: The Taliban government in Afghanistan Thursday announced its forces killed several militants, most of them foreign nationals, from a Daesh network that was behind the attack on the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul last month.

On December 2, Daesh militants stormed the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, targeting Chargé d’Affaires (CdA) to Afghanistan Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani. The diplomat escaped the attack unharmed, but his bodyguard was critically wounded by the gunshots.

The terrorist group had claimed responsibility for the attack, verifying their target was the Pakistani envoy. In a statement on Twitter Thursday, the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the Afghan security forces carried out operations in Kabul against a network of Daesh that perpetrated attacks on the Pakistani mission and a hotel where Chinese nationals were staying.

China had asked its nationals to leave Afghanistan after five Chinese were injured in the attack on December 12. According to Mujahid, Afghan forces conducted operations in Kabul and Nimroz provinces against Daesh militants involved in terrorist activities.

و نیز داعشی های خارجی را به افغانستان انتقال میداند، حملات گسترده و هماهنگ اجرا شد، که در ضمن آن در ساحات ( شهدای صالحین و قلاچه مربوط حوزه هشتم شهر کابل و نیز در شهر زرنج مرکز ولایت نیمروز) سه مخفی کاه آنها هدف قرار گرفت.
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— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) January 5, 2023

Zabiullah added that they targeted three hideouts in the Shahadai Salehin and Qalacha districts of Kabul’s eighth district and the city of Zaranj, the centre of Nimroz province.

As a result, the hideout was destroyed, eight foreign nationals of Daesh were killed, and seven were captured alive, the spokesperson said. “Many small arms, hand grenades, mines, vests and explosives were also recovered from their possession,” he said adding, “Several suspicious people were also detained for further investigation”.

It is important to note that the Foreign Office had recalled envoy Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani for consultation amid the worsening law and order situation in the Afghan capital.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, the Head of Mission is safe. However, a Pakistani security guard Sepoy Israr Mohammad has been critically injured in the attack while protecting the Head of Mission,” the FO said in a statement immediately after the attack.

In the wake of the attack, Pakistan demanded the Afghan government to immediately hold thorough investigations into the attack, apprehend the culprits, hold them to account, and take urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani diplomatic personnel and citizens in Afghanistan.