ISLAMABAD: In an apparent reference to the concerns shown by Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif regarding the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan, Taliban government has said that they signed the Doha deal with the US, not Pakistan.
The statement comes amid surging violence in the country blamed on the terrorists coming from Afghanistan. In an interview with BBC Pashto, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in response to the Asif’s remarks that Afghanistan is not fulfilling its obligations under the Doha deal said they didn’t sign the peace accord with Islamabad, according to Pakistani media.
But at the same time, he claimed that Afghan soil was not being used for attacks in Pakistan, as the nation was “a Muslim and brother country”.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in terrorism across the country, especially along the Pak-Afghan border which it believes is perpetrated by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) despite assurances by their benefactors of reining in the militant group.
Last week, Pakistan Army said it was seriously concerned that militants had found safe havens in the neighbouring Afghanistan and threatened to take an “effective response” two days after 12 of its soldiers embraced martyrdom in two Balochistan attacks.
While responding to Mujahid’s assertion, senior PPP leader Farhatullah Babar termed it “disturbing”.
“Taliban spokesperson says Taliban signed Doha agreement with US, not with Pakistan & It’s policy towards Pakistan is different. Does it mean Doha agreement binds Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all? Disturbing,” he tweeted.
Khawaja Asif also agreed with Babar’s interpretation. “A fair interpretation of Kabul’s statement. Irrespective of Afghanistan’s stance, Pakistan stands resolute in uprooting terrorism from its soil, whatever the source. This is regardless of whether or not Kabul has the will to reign in militants from within its borders,” he said on Twitter.
TTP has also become active in Balochistan after multiple attacks in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, where the Pakistan Army had uprooted the militant safe havens after successful operations.
Since revoking a ceasefire agreement with the Pakistan government in late 2022, the TTP has stepped up attacks.
