Pakistan PM Links Cooperation with Afghanistan to Taliban Crackdown on TTP
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that Islamabad’s cooperation with Afghanistan depends on the Taliban taking decisive action against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups.
Speaking at a conference of parliamentary leaders from Islamic countries in Islamabad, Sharif emphasized the inseparable link between peace and development. “Peace and stability are the fundamental basis for sustainable development, and progress is impossible without security,” he said. He noted that Pakistan has suffered from anti-peace activities and has always taken a firm stance to defend its national security.
Sharif revealed that in May of this year, Pakistani border areas came under unprovoked attacks by unknown forces in the east, and last month, outposts inside Pakistan were targeted by assailants based across the border in Afghanistan. He described these actions as a direct threat to his country’s national security and stated that Pakistan has responded “firmly and decisively” to these assaults.
Warning of the growing threat posed by extremist groups, Sharif said, “Continued Taliban support for the TTP not only undermines peace but also distances Afghanistan from achieving greater stability.” He reiterated that cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan could be possible if the Taliban act responsibly and take serious measures against extremist groups like the TTP.
These remarks were made during a two-day international summit in Islamabad focused on strengthening global peace, sustainable development, and parliamentary cooperation among Islamic countries. Delegations from several nations, including Azerbaijan, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Palestine, Morocco, Rwanda, Liberia, Barbados, and Nepal, participated in the event.
Although Sharif referred to the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan in his speech, he acknowledged that the group lacks international legitimacy and, despite regional pressure, has yet to take concrete steps to counter threats emanating from Afghan soil against neighboring countries.
