Pakistan Conditions Talks with Taliban on Handing Over Pakistani Taliban Fighters
Pakistan’s military has announced that Islamabad is ready to engage in talks with the Taliban administration, but the process will only begin if members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are handed over to Pakistan and alleged terrorist camps within Afghanistan are dismantled.
Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, told Geo News on Wednesday that Pakistan is prepared for negotiations, but the precondition is the “surrender of terrorists.” He emphasized that the Taliban administration must decide whether the TTP is more important to them than Pakistan and whether they choose terrorism or peace.
The Pakistani military spokesperson further claimed that individuals affiliated with the TTP find refuge in Afghanistan and that some even reside in government buildings. These remarks come amid rising security tensions between the two sides in recent months.
Islamabad has demanded that the Taliban administration eliminate TTP bases inside Afghanistan and hand over wanted individuals to Pakistan. The Taliban authorities have not formally responded to these recent statements; however, they have repeatedly denied the presence and activities of armed groups operating against other countries from Afghan soil.
Despite this, ongoing attacks in border areas and growing mistrust between the two parties raise questions about the Taliban administration’s capability and willingness to control armed groups based in Afghanistan—a matter that could cast a shadow over the political and security relations between the two countries.
