An Afghan Taliban delegation, made up of intelligence and security officials, quietly visited Islamabad recently to discuss a way to address Pakistan’s concerns regarding the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to a press report published on Tuesday.
Taliban ranks in Kabul also confirmed that a mid-level delegation headed by Abdullah Ghazanavi, head of the General Intelligence Directorate (GDI), traveled to Islamabad to discuss the TTP and threats to Pakistan, the Express Tribune newspaper reported, citing sources. .
The visit followed a trip to Kabul last month by a high-level delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, which was briefed on steps taken by the Afghan government to deal with the TTP.
Read also | Afghan Taliban Top Leader Issues Decree Against Nepotism
The Pakistani delegation, however, considered these steps unsatisfactory and sought concerted action. Pakistan also confronted Afghan Taliban leaders with evidence regarding the whereabouts of the TTP leaders.
According to the newspaper, during their stay in Islamabad, the Afghan delegation met with the relevant authorities to discuss the security situation and the fate of the TTP and its affiliates.
Citing a source in Kabul with knowledge of the matter, the newspaper said the delegation, made up of 10 members of Taliban intelligence, visited Islamabad last week.
The delegation was also assisted by GDI official Muhammad Wardak, the source said, adding that the delegation was mandated to deliver a message from Kabul that Pakistan’s concerns would be addressed.
Both sides remained mum about the visit. The sources in Islamabad said that given the sensitivity of the issue, both sides decided to discuss these matters away from the media spotlight.
The source in Kabul revealed that both sides made progress on various issues, but he was not authorized to make public statements.
The TTP has become a thorny issue between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan hoped that the Afghan Taliban would address its concerns regarding the TTP after its return to power in August 2021. But contrary to expectations, TTP attacks only increased.
The Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to confront the TTP stemmed from their fears that the group’s fighters might join Da’esh (Islamic State). Second, the Afghan Taliban and the TTP share the same ideology when they fought alongside US-led foreign forces.
However, the two sides have been trying to find a way out of the TTP issue as it has threatened to undermine their future cooperation, according to the newspaper.
Pakistan has seen a rise in TTP violence since peace talks between the militant group and the government began to break down last year. The TTP formally ended the ceasefire on November 28.
The TTP, which has ideological ties to the Afghan Taliban and is also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was created as an umbrella group of various militant groups in 2007. Its main goal is to impose its strict brand of Islam throughout Pakistan.
The TTP, believed to be close to al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including a 2009 attack on the army headquarters, attacks on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Hotel Marriott in Islamabad.
In 2012, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai was attacked by TTP. She suffered gunshot wounds and was admitted to Peshawar Military Hospital (CMH) and then taken to London for further treatment. The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Yousafzai was a “western-minded girl”.
In 2014, the Pakistani Taliban stormed the Army Public School (APS) in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing at least 150 people, including 131 students. The attack shocked the entire world and was widely condemned.
