ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A senior Pakistani lawmaker has said relations between Pakistan and the Taliban are improving, with the Taliban showing signs of shifting their stance on the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that Islamabad considers a major security threat.
Irfan Siddiqui, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, told reporters following a recent committee session that Afghanistan’s Taliban administration appeared increasingly receptive to Pakistan’s concerns over the TTP’s presence and operations inside Afghan territory.
Siddiqui cited a briefing by Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Sadiq Khan, who updated the committee on recent diplomatic efforts and signaled that high-level visits between the two countries are expected in the near future to revive formal dialogue.
According to Siddiqui, Khan emphasized that Pakistan had raised the issue of TTP support structures in Afghanistan “in strong terms” and that Afghan officials were beginning to “come around to Pakistan’s point of view.”
Another round of discussions focused on Afghanistan is expected soon, Siddiqui said, as reported by Daily Islamabad.
Khan visited Kabul last month and held talks with Taliban officials on a range of issues, including border security, refugee concerns and the activities of the TTP — a group responsible for dozens of deadly attacks in Pakistan and long believed to be operating from safe havens inside Afghanistan.
