KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban authorities reached out to the newly elected government of Pakistan, urging for talks to reach a resolution on bilateral issues and alleviate tensions amid their strained relationship in recent times.
The Express Tribune, a Pakistani media outlet, reported that Mullah Shirin Akhund, the Taliban governor of Kandahar province, asked the Pakistani ambassador to Kabul to deliver their message to the new Pakistani authorities. Shirin Akhund, who is close to the group’s supreme leader, reportedly asked for renewed dialogue to address bilateral issues.
According to the media outlet, the Pakistani diplomat has assured the Taliban authority that he will convey the message, and he is expected to travel to Islamabad soon.
In recent years, the relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan has been strained due to the Taliban’s refusal to neutralize the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that has escalated its attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Their bilateral relations deteriorated even more when the caretaker government of Pakistan opted to deport 1.7 million undocumented Afghan refugees, tightened border controls, and mandated visas for travel to the country.
Pakistan claims that members of the TTP and its affiliates are hiding in Afghanistan, receiving training and advanced military weapons to launch cross border attacks and destabilize the region.
The country has consistently demanded the ruling regime in Afghanistan to take decisive actions against TTP leaders and militants, and to hand them over to Islamabad.
The Taliban authorities, however, have denied their ties with the militant group in the past, stating that they are not responsible for the recent security incidents in Pakistan. Taliban officials argue that Pakistan’s internal issues are not their responsibility.
According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan’s acting ambassador to Kabul, Obaid ur Rehman Nizamani, recently traveled to Kandahar, the residence of the Taliban supreme leader, to meet with Mullah Shirin Akhund, the governor there.
According to the local media, Mullah Shirin Akhund congratulated the Pakistani diplomat on the establishment of a new government in Pakistan, expressing hope that it would assist both Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are Islamic and neighboring countries.
“We discussed matters of common interest and agreed to advance Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in all mutually beneficial areas,” Nizamani said.
Mullah Shirin Akhund was also part of the Taliban committee tasked with facilitating talks between the TTP and Pakistani government.
Earlier in January, he visited Islamabad and engaged in discussions with Pakistani officials, including the caretaker foreign minister and the special envoy for Afghanistan, Asif Durani, aiming to ease tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan concerning the TTP matter.
The latest development comes just a few days after J.P. Singh, India’s representative for Afghanistan, visited Kabul and met with the Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, as well as Afghan traders.
During the meeting, according to the Taliban foreign ministry, both sides concentrated on engaging in in-depth discussions regarding bilateral relations, economic affairs, and transit issues.
The ministry quoted Mr. Singh as saying, “India is interested in expanding political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan and enhancing trade via Chabahar port.”
“Extending gratitude to India for its humanitarian assistance, FM Muttaqi said that in line with our balanced foreign policy, IEA seeks to strengthen political and economic relations with India as an important actor in the region,” the Taliban ministry said.
