Pakistan: Afghan Taliban will help Pakistan in dealing with TTP extremists, Mullah Baradar assures

Posted on 23rd Feb 2023 by rohit kumar

Pakistan is horrified by the recent spate of attacks by the banned terrorist organization TTP and frequent firing along the main border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban leaders have promised to help Pakistan to deal with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. The agreement between the two countries was reached during the one-day visit of a high-level Pakistani delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

 

Pakistan, which is facing a cash crunch, is also facing serious security challenges. Among these, attacks among Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are prominent. Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan were also deteriorating over this issue. Facing security challenges, a high-level Pakistani delegation led by the country's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reached Kabul on Wednesday.

 

 

These Taliban leaders were present at the meeting

The delegation met Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban regime, Defense Minister Maulvi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaki and discussed security-related issues, including counter-terrorism measures.

 

Agreement on cooperation to deal with terrorism

The growing menace of TTP and IS was discussed during the meeting. At the same time, both sides have also agreed to cooperate to effectively deal with the menace of terrorism. Pakistan's Foreign Office has also given information about this. A Pakistani newspaper quoted a senior Pakistani official as saying that the delegation has told Taliban officials that Afghanistan-based TTP terrorists should be reined in. The Pakistani official said Taliban leaders have agreed to cooperate on the issue. Perhaps he has realized the seriousness of the situation. This visit of a high-level delegation of Pakistan has taken place at a time when relations with their neighboring country are continuously deteriorating.

 

These leaders and officials are included in the Pakistani delegation

The delegation included ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed, Special Envoy on Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq, and Pakistan's in-charge of Afghanistan Obaid Nizamani.

 

What did the Afghan Council of Ministers say in the statement?

A statement from the Afghan Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) said the two sides discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral ties. It said that the Afghan deputy prime minister asked the Pakistani delegation to release Taliban prisoners held in Pakistani jails. He also talked about more facilities at the two major border crossing points of Torkham and Chaman.

 

Business should not be affected by political and security matters: Abdul Ghani Baradar

The statement quoted Baradar as saying that Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbors and they should have cordial relations. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seeks the expansion of commercial and economic ties with Pakistan, as such ties are in the interest of both countries. Political and security issues should not affect trade and economic affairs between the two countries, the statement said. He should be kept away from the problems related to politics and security.

 

The journey after the attack on the Karachi headquarters

The visit comes days after TTP gunmen attacked the police headquarters in Karachi. Four people, including three security personnel, lost their lives in that attack. Earlier on January 30, a suicide bombing at a mosque in Peshawar claimed over 100 lives. The TTP was also held responsible for the mosque attack. Last year, the TTP formally ended the ceasefire on November 28. Since then 58 attacks have been claimed by the TTP, in which 170 people were killed. Not only this, many of these attacks were planned and directed by the TTP leadership based in Afghanistan. However, Afghan leaders have always rejected allegations that the TTP used their country's soil for attacks in Pakistan.

 

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