Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday that there will be no talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or any other terrorist organization.
This statement by a senior member of the federal cabinet has come at a time when there has been a sharp increase in terrorist incidents from the Afghanistan-based terrorist organization after the end of the TTP ceasefire last year.
Speaking about the National Security Committee meeting in an interview, Sanaullah said that Pakistan has decided to share evidence with the Taliban government as Afghanistan-based terrorists are involved in terrorist activities here.
The interior minister said that Afghanistan had promised that its territory would not be used against any other country, and the Afghan government would be asked to fulfill the promise.
He said that it has been decided in the NSC meeting that there will be no talks with TTP or any other terrorist organization.
In the meeting, the Army Chief had categorically said that mixed messages should not be given on the issue of negotiations with terrorists, the narrative should be clear that there will be no negotiations with any terrorists.
The leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) said that General Asim Munir said this in clear words with proofs in the meeting.
He reiterated his position that international law allows action in the form of aggression in self-defense.
The interior minister said that there will be talks with the Afghan government, no area of Pakistan is under the control of terrorists.
Afghan government angry over ‘provocative statements’
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesman of the Taliban, has said that the government of Afghanistan wants better relations with all its neighboring countries, including Pakistan, and believes in all the resources and means that will help them achieve this goal.
His statement came a day after the NSC, which asked the government in Kabul – without naming it – not to provide sanctuaries to Pakistani terrorist groups on its soil.
Expressing disappointment over recent statements by Pakistani officials, the Taliban spokesperson said they are trying their best to ensure that Afghan soil is not used against Pakistan or any other country.
“It is also the responsibility of the Pakistani side to try to control the situation and refrain from issuing baseless and inflammatory statements,” he said, adding that such statements and the atmosphere of mistrust should be avoided by anyone. It is not in the interest of the party.
The Taliban spokesman said that the Afghan government attaches importance to peace and stability not only within the country but also in the entire region and vowed that his country would continue its efforts in this regard.
