Pakistan 'Talks Tough' With Afghanistan Amid Surge In Militancy, Demands Action Against TTP

A soldier stops and checks passenger vehicles at a security check post, a day after separatist militants conducted deadly attacks, on the outskirts of Quetta, Pakistan August 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Pakistan intensifies stance on Afghanistan, rejecting talks with TTP and demanding action against terror groups. This follows the kidnapping of a Pakistani army colonel by TTP

In protest of the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities, Pakistan has rejected talks with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) following a series of terrorist attacks in the country.

“Pakistan rejects any idea of holding talks with the TTP. We have no plans to engage in discussions with them. Such offers are seen as an affront to the thousands of TTP victims who have been killed in Pakistan,” top government sources told CNN-News18.

Talks with TTP

Addressing a press briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated that the country will not engage in talks with the TTP. The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan expects the Afghan authorities to take decisive action against the TTP and other terrorist groups that pose a threat to its security.

“The use of Afghan soil for terrorist acts in Pakistan is well established,” the spokesperson stated, noting that Pakistan has previously shared evidence of individuals based in Afghanistan involved in attacks within its borders.

According to top government sources, Pakistan’s government has expressed its dissatisfaction with Afghanistan’s lack of action against the TTP, which has been linked to a surge in violence since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. The foreign office highlighted that the presence of terror groups in Afghanistan has been confirmed by multiple independent reports, including those from the UN.

Kidnapping of Colonel

This rebuke came as TTP claimed responsibility for the abduction of Pakistan’s Lieutenant Colonel Khalid and three others in Dera Ismail Khan. A video released by the TTP showed the colonel and his companions appealing for their demands to be met for their safety. The situation has intensified discussions about Pakistan’s security measures and its relationship with the Afghan government.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has indicated that the country is open to conducting military operations against terrorist groups based in Afghanistan if necessary. He reiterated that there would be no dialogue with the TTP, saying, “What do we talk about? We need to have a common ground to speak to them.”