Pakistani Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan has stressed the importance of dialogue and engagement with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, while rejecting the notion of negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban.
In an interview with Nikkei on June 30, Khan dismissed the notion of negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan). He acknowledged the shared responsibility of the international community in dealing with the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
Khan firmly stated, “We have consistently made it clear that negotiation is off the table. We will not negotiate with TTP.”
Regarding the Afghan Taliban, Khan expressed a different view, recognizing the necessity of engaging with them due to the potential spillover effects of the Afghanistan crisis.
He acknowledged the interconnectedness of the situation, stating, “We have no other choice but to engage because the impact of events in Afghanistan is not confined to that country alone. We are closely involved to ensure that the situation does not deteriorate further.”
The TTP has strong connections with the Afghan Taliban, and a significant portion of its political leadership and operational capacity is based in Afghanistan.
