Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan calls on Pakistan and TTP to hold talks
Recommends that Pakistan and Afghanistan work together to fund transport projects including new trains and corridors.
In a press conference held Monday in ISLAMABAD, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Muttaqi called for talks between the Pakistani government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Muttaqi made these remarks at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, claiming that the Afghan Taliban were instrumental in setting up talks between the Pakistani government and the TTP.
He insisted, “We do not want any bloodshed and unrest on the land of Pakistan,” before noting the grave security and political issues facing the two countries.
According to the acting FM, the Taliban never declared women’s education to be “un-Islamic” or “prohibited,” despite the fact that this is what the Afghan interim government has been saying.
Bilawal and Muttaqi agree to improve anti-terror collaboration.
He said the Taliban in Afghanistan have ordered a halt to all schooling till further notice.
Muttaqi added, “Pakistan and Afghanistan have to jointly invest in infrastructure, especially railways and corridor projects.” He further emphasised that Afghan land would not be utilised against any other country.
He continued, “we have to take advantage of the opportunities for economic development” because the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan have already paid a high price.
The acting FM also emphasised the significance of fostering economic ties with Pakistan and Central Asian states.
The travel of Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister to Pakistan seems likely.
Muttaqi, speaking about the state of the Afghan economy, said the Taliban leadership has worked hard since taking power to overcome obstacles and improve the situation.
Inflation has dropped in the war-torn country, and the Afghan currency has steadied, the foreign minister continued, citing a World Bank report.
Muttaqi is in Pakistan for a total of four days. In addition to these one-on-one conferences, he spent Saturday at the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.
The TTP talks policy is complete.
The Afghan interim government was informed by a high-level delegation from Pakistan led by the country’s defense minister in February that the policy of holding negotiations with the TTP was terminated.
There had been a rise in terrorist assaults in Pakistan at the time of the visit. After attacks on police facilities in Peshawar and Karachi, Pakistani officials made contact with the Afghan Taliban.
