ISLAMABAD: Senior Pakistani politicians, including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, are concerned by the Taliban government’s claim. They said that they signed the Doha contract with the US, not Pakistan, amid rising bloodshed.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told BBC Pashto that they didn’t sign the peace treaty with Islamabad. It was in reaction to the defence minister’s claims that Afghanistan isn’t meeting its duties.
He further maintained that Pakistan was “a Muslim and brother country” and therefore not using Afghan land for assaults.
Despite promises from its backers to rein in the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan seen a dramatic rise in terrorism.
Two days after 12 of its soldiers killed in two strikes, Pakistan Army warned of a “effective response” to extremists in the neighbouring nation.
“Serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in Afghanistan,” the army said, adding that such actions are abhorrent and would evoke a robust response from Pakistani security forces.
Farhatullah Babar, a prominent PPP leader, called Mujahid’s claim “disturbing”.
“Taliban spokesperson says the Taliban signed Doha agreement with US, not Pakistan and Its policy towards Pakistan is different.”
“Does it mean the Doha agreement binds the Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all?”
Asif agreed with Babar that Pakistan will eradicate terrorism regardless of Afghanistan’s position.
“This is regardless of whether Kabul will rein in militants from within its borders.”
After repeated attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa TTP has been active in Balochistan.
Since cancelling a truce with the government in late 2022, the militant organisation has increased attacks, including the Peshawar mosque explosion that killed over 100 people earlier this year.
