ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday revealed that the Afghan Taliban regime has admitted the presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups operating from within Afghanistan, during the latest round of bilateral talks between the two nations.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Afghan officials offered various justifications for not taking action against these groups, a stance that further validated Pakistan’s security concerns about cross-border militancy.
Read More: Pak-Afghan talks stall over TTP, BLA safe havens
Andrabi emphasised that the dialogue, held in Istanbul from October 25 to 30 under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar, was “sensitive and complex,” noting that minute-by-minute commentary was inappropriate given the delicate nature of the discussions. He added that detailed outcomes would surface after the next round of talks scheduled for November 6.
He clarified that Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry’s statement following the Istanbul dialogue was merely an introductory note, not a complete reflection of the talks, and said that written assurances from Kabul were still under negotiation.
The spokesperson stressed that the decision to keep the Pakistan-Afghanistan border closed was based on a comprehensive security assessment and would remain so until further notice. He also confirmed that high-level participation is expected in the next round, though no final decision has been made regarding Pakistan’s delegation head.
Read More: TTP commander killed as Pakistan foils border infiltration
Andrabi reaffirmed that the ceasefire with Afghanistan remains intact, expressing hope that it will be fully implemented through a monitoring and verification mechanism to penalise any violator. The Istanbul talks concluded with both countries agreeing to continue cooperation for regional peace and stability.