WASHINGTON: US State Department Special Envoy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan Thomas West has said that Pakistan is dealing with increasing attacks led by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and is a major concern.
Talking during an interview, West said that Pakistan is an important partner of America and both countries will continue to work together.
The West thanked Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees on behalf of its country for 40 years. He also thanked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for facilitating the refugees.
West said that two weeks ago he stayed in Pakistan for two and a half days, during which he discussed issues of mutual interest in Afghanistan with Islamabad officials.
“It was a pleasure to speak with the security and civilian authorities in Islamabad,” he added.
Giving details of their meetings in Pakistan, Maghrib said the challenges faced by the country in dealing with the banned organization were discussed.
He said that the same concerns were also discussed in the meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, however, he said that this is not a new challenge.
Maghrib said that Pakistan was dealing with challenges related to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“The [increase] in attacks led by the outlawed TTP is a challenge that Pakistan is dealing with,” he said.
Rejected partnership with Afghan Taliban.
Speaking about US relations with the Afghan Taliban, the special representative said: “I don’t believe there will be any practical partnership between the US and the Taliban.”
The West pointed out that the Taliban’s harboring of Ayman al-Zawahiri (former al-Qaeda chief) was a clear violation of the Doha agreement.
Additionally, he said his country does not need a third party to facilitate US-Taliban ties because he and other US officials are in direct contact with the group.
He said that I believe that there should be a direct dialogue.
West said it was the first in-person meeting between US officials and Taliban representatives in Doha.
He said that issues related to terrorism, Taliban’s efforts against Daesh and concerns related to Al-Qaeda were discussed in detail with the representatives of the group.
“The U.S. raised human rights concerns in Afghanistan in negotiations with the Taliban,” Maghrib said.
He added that the World Bank has tried to provide 1.5 billion dollars for the Afghan people.
