Pakistan urges Taliban to abandon ‘war-like mindset’
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has urged the Taliban administration to move away from what he called a “war-like mindset” and adopt the approach of a responsible administration. Speaking at a meeting in Islamabad, he said the Taliban administration’s thinking and actions were among the factors behind the current problems between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and that the persistence of insecurity and the activities of armed groups remained the main obstacle to improving ties between the two countries.
The meeting was held on Tuesday and focused on the situation in Afghanistan and the prospects for regional peace. Tarar said Pakistan had repeatedly sought to resolve disputes through dialogue and that its delegations had travelled to Afghanistan; talks had also been held in third countries, including Istanbul and Doha.
Pakistan’s information minister claimed that safe havens for armed groups and the activities of banned organisations in Afghanistan were hindering peace between the two countries. Taliban officials have rejected these allegations and said they would not allow Afghan soil to be used against any country.
Tarar also said peace and stability in Afghanistan could create conditions for expanding regional trade and economic cooperation. According to him, Afghanistan has the potential to become a route linking Central Asia with Pakistan and its ports.
