ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has outlined specific criteria to assess the effectiveness of the Afghan Taliban government’s efforts in addressing the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch revealed that Pakistan had provided evidence to the Afghan interim government regarding the existence of TTP sanctuaries.
“We’ve presented compelling evidence to the interim Afghan government regarding the existence of TTP sanctuaries. Our call to action emphasizes the urgency for the Afghan authorities to decisively address these TTP elements, dismantle their networks, and thwart terrorist infiltrations from across the border into Pakistan,” she emphasized. “Additionally, we emphasize the need to hold those responsible for terrorist activities within Pakistan accountable. Our ongoing engagement with the Afghan government is steadfast, with a dedicated focus on achieving these crucial objectives.”
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Responding to inquiries about potential actions against the TTP by the Afghan Taliban, the spokesperson emphasized that such reports should yield positive outcomes. “Positive reports of actions against TTP are anticipated to yield tangible outcomes. This translates to a reduction in terrorist incidents in Pakistan, orchestrated by TTP elements harbored within Afghanistan, with the ultimate goal of complete elimination.”
During the visit of the acting Afghan minister for Industry and Commerce, Pakistan’s foreign minister called for decisive action by Afghanistan against terrorist groups, particularly the TTP. He also expressed Pakistan’s willingness to collaborate with the Interim Afghan Government for this purpose, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to addressing issues through constructive engagement and dialogue.
Addressing allegations that Pakistan was supplying weapons to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, the spokesperson vehemently rejected such claims. “I reaffirm what we have said in the past that Pakistan has not sold weapons to Ukraine or to Russia as we have a policy of strict neutrality in this conflict,” she insisted. “Secondly, we are not in a position to confirm what weaponry is being used by the parties in the conflict. Thirdly, as I said in the past, Pakistan’s exports of weaponry to countries are accompanied by end-user certificates, and we expect the parties importing Pakistani weapons to respect those end-user commitments.”
