The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the Cabinet of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar, said that engagement with the interim government in Afghanistan is "preconditioned" on the issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“The engagement with Afghan interim government which is currently in Afghanistan is preconditioned on this issue (TTP). They have told us that they believe the blood of Pakistanis should not be poured but this has only been at a level of speech. They should prove some of the things because we have the ability to counter the TTP,” she said.
This comes as deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, denied the presence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, saying that there is no threat from Afghan soil to any country.
“It will not allow any country or element to damage other countries from the Afghan soil. Such elements and groups don’t exist on our soil,” Karimi said.
Political analysts said that the interim government can play an important role in resolving the challenges of Pakistan.
“As long as the leader of the TTP has direct and special contact with the current government of Afghanistan, the current Afghan government can both as the mediator and as the neighbor play an important role in the challenges of the two sides,” said Najeeb Rahman Shamal, political analyst.
“TTP is considered a power in Pakistan. Also, the politics of Pakistan and Afghanistan are not centred on transparent and mutual interest, thus, the Islamic Emirate may be less interested in this regard,” said Sayed Muqdam Ameen, a political analyst.
On his visit to Pakistan, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi held meetings with the country's officials including the Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir.
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