Taliban TTP Vs Pakistan: Will not take action on TTP, Pak Army Chief Munir trapped badly, Taliban bluntly

The Afghan Taliban made a fresh plea for peace talks between Pakistan and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as Islamabad’s efforts to demand action by Kabul against the terrorist organization failed to make headway. Pakistan this week sent its special envoy to Kabul on a three-day visit to send a clear message that the interim government must take decisive action against the TTP. But the Afghan Taliban told him after several meetings that Pakistan should adopt the path of peace instead of using force.

During his visit, Ambassador Asif Durrani met Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaki and other officials. Official sources familiar with the closed-door talks told The Express Tribune that the Afghan Taliban leadership was told in clear terms that Pakistan’s patience with the TTP was wearing out. Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told her weekly news briefing that the issue of terrorism, as I have said earlier also in previous briefings, is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan. Pakistan has raised this issue with Afghan officials on several occasions and in every important dialogue between Pakistan and Afghan interim officials.

We have discussed the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil, when asked whether Ambassador Durrani has raised the issue of cross-border terrorism with Afghan officials. But despite Pakistan’s insistence on action against TTP, the Afghan Taliban government is not ready to follow that path. According to sources, the Deputy Afghan Prime Minister suggested the Pakistani envoy to adopt the path of peace instead of using force.