The foreign ministries of Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar issued statements condemning Saturday’s militant attack in Upper Waziristan that claimed the lives of at least 12 Pakistani soldiers. Each country expressed condolences to the victims’ families and reaffirmed opposition to terrorism in all its forms.

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Pakistan’s military said separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) between September 10 and 13 killed 45 militants in Bajaur, South Waziristan, and Lower Dir, but 19 soldiers also lost their lives. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described the militants as “Khwarij” linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan designates as Fitna al-Khwarij, accusing the group of using Afghan soil to launch attacks.

Turkiye

Ankara said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of lives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, condemning the incident as a “heinous act of terror.” The statement added: “We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives.”

Saudi Arabia

“The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the terrorist attack that targeted Pakistani soldiers in northwest Pakistan,” Riyadh said, stressing its rejection of “all forms of violence and terrorism.”

Qatar

Doha “strongly condemned and denounced” the attack on a military convoy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reaffirming its opposition to “terrorism and criminal acts, regardless of motives.” The ministry extended condolences to the government and people of Pakistan, as well as to the families of those killed.

Kuwait

Kuwait’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack, describing its position as “firm and unwavering against all forms of violence and terrorism.” The statement extended condolences to Pakistan and wished a swift recovery for the injured.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE’s foreign ministry “strongly condemned” the convoy attack, describing it as a “heinous act aimed at undermining security and stability.” It expressed “sincere condolences and sympathy” to the families of the slain soldiers.

Sharif’s Warning to Kabul

Visiting wounded troops at Bannu’s Combined Military Hospital, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif directly accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants.

“Terrorists come from Afghanistan and, together with the TTP, martyr our soldiers and citizens,” he said. “Choose one of two paths. If they wish to establish relations with Pakistan with sincerity, we are ready. But if they choose to side with terrorists, we will have nothing to do with the Afghan interim government.”

Cross-Border Infiltration

Recently, jailed leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, rejected the government’s refugee repatriation policy, describing the move as a violation of “Islamic tradition and humanity.” He alleged the policy was designed to “appease the anti-Taliban lobby.”

Officials in Islamabad argue that Afghan refugee networks are exploited for recruitment and logistics. Dossiers shared with the United Nations highlight cross-border infiltration, while captured fighters admitted to training in Afghan camps. Pakistan has also intensified its refugee repatriation policy to counter these threats.

Following recent operations in Bajaur and Mohmand, Pakistan handed over the bodies of several TTP militants, including Mulvi Farid Mansoor, son of the group’s religious commission head Mulvi Faqir, and commander Wazir, along with Afghan fighters, to authorities across the border.

Domestic Instability and Policy Legacy

Officials warn that domestic instability and competing narratives further weaken state counterterrorism efforts. Parties such as PTI, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), and Awam National Party (ANP), they allege, create ambiguity over military operations, fueling political division and public confusion.

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United Nations reports indicate that Afghan territory continues to serve as a base for the TTP, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and the militant groups operating in Balochistan, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Analysts argue that appeasement during the PTI-led KP government enabled these groups to regroup after 2021.

Former prime minister Imran Khan, speaking at a seminar in 2023, acknowledged that his government had planned to resettle TTP fighters in Pakistan’s tribal districts with support from the Afghan Taliban, a plan that was never fully realised.