ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistani politicians, including Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, are upset over the Taliban government’s statement that it signed the Dohal Agreement with the US, not Pakistan, which comes amid rising violence in the country.
While giving an interview, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in response to the defense minister’s statement that Afghanistan is not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement, saying that they have not signed a peace agreement with Islamabad. have done
But at the same time, he claimed that Afghan soil was not being used for attacks in Pakistan, as the nation was “a Muslim and brotherly country”.
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in terrorism across the country, which it believes is perpetrated by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), despite assurances from its aides to rein in the militant group. What is it.
Last week, Pakistan’s military said it was seriously concerned that militants had found safe havens in the neighboring country and threatened an “effective response” two days after two attacks killed 12 of its soldiers.
It said the military had “serious concerns over the safe havens and freedom of action available to the TTP in Afghanistan,” adding that such attacks were intolerable and required an effective response by Pakistan’s security forces. will get.
Responding to Mujahid’s claim, veteran politician and senior PPP leader Farhatullah Babar called it “disturbing”.
A fair interpretation of Kabul’s statement. Irrespective of Afghanistan’s stance, Pakistan stands resolute in uprooting terrorism from its soil, whatever the source. This is regardless of whether or not Kabul has the will to reign in militants from within its borders. https://t.co/bsaQIsiTW1
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) July 16, 2023
“A Taliban spokesman says that the Taliban signed the Doha agreement with the US, not Pakistan, and that its policy towards Pakistan is different.”
He asked: “Does this mean that the Doha agreement obliges the Taliban to rein in only a few militants, not all?”
Agreeing with Babar’s interpretation, Asif said that regardless of Afghanistan’s stance, Pakistan is committed to rooting out terrorism from its soil.
“This is regardless of whether or not Kabul wishes to rein in the militants from within its borders.”
The TTP has also been active in Balochistan following a series of attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, where the Pakistan Army had dismantled militant safe havens after successful operations.
The militant group has stepped up attacks since canceling a ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022, including a bomb attack on a mosque in Peshawar earlier this year that killed more than 100 people. People were killed.
