Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, reaffirmed Thursday that Islamabad is not open to negotiations with Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), urging Afghanistan’s Taliban to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory as a launchpad for attacks.
Speaking at a press conference, Baloch underscored Pakistan’s concerns about what it describes as “terrorist groups” finding “hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.”
“Pakistan has made it clear on numerous occasions that we are not interested in dialogue with groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani civilians and law enforcement,” Baloch stated, in response to a recent call from Afghanistan’s Taliban ambassador in Islamabad, who urged Pakistan to pursue dialogue with the TTP.
Baloch dismissed such suggestions, emphasizing that Islamabad has repeatedly rejected any such negotiations.
Baloch reiterated that the Taliban administration bears a primary responsibility to curtail the TTP’s presence within Afghanistan, adding that Pakistan has provided “concrete evidence” regarding the group’s activities and its operational infrastructure across the border.
“Pakistan believes that any decrees issued by the Afghan government should apply to all individuals who have taken refuge in Afghanistan,” she added.
A recent United Nations report estimates that over 20 militant organizations currently operate within Afghanistan. The Taliban has denied these reports, calling them baseless.
