KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistani authorities have presented “compelling evidence” to China’s special envoy for Afghanistan about the activities of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, according to Pakistani media.
The Express Tribune reported on November 19 that the new evidence was shared with the Chinese top diplomat on Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong, during his visit to Islamabad on Monday.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his visit, the Chinese envoy held a detailed discussion on Afghanistan with senior Pakistani officials, including Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
“Both sides exchanged views on relations with Afghanistan and emphasized the vital role of neighboring countries in achieving a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.”
Pakistani media, citing sources, reported that authorities briefed the Chinese envoy on the current situation in Afghanistan, highlighting the presence of terrorist groups, particularly the TTP, in the country.
“Sources said authorities in Islamabad shared compelling evidence with the Chinese diplomat about the terrorist sanctuaries across the border posing a threat to Pakistan’s security,” part of the report reads.
“The Chinese envoy was told that the Afghan Taliban were not doing enough to curb the activities of those groups despite repeated calls by Pakistan and the international community,” it added.
According to the report, Pakistani authorities urged the Chinese diplomat to support a collective stance against the Taliban to compel them to take action against terrorist groups in Afghanistan.
Although previous Chinese mediation between Pakistan and the Taliban yielded no results, Islamabad still believes that China, which has maintained normal diplomatic relations with the Taliban, can exert influence over them and push them to address Pakistan’s concerns.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban have deteriorated in recent years, primarily due to the TTP issue. The militant group, which shares a similar ideology with the Afghan Taliban, has intensified its conflict with the Pakistani government.
In recent years, Pakistani officials have repeatedly called on the Taliban to take action against the TTP and other militant groups seeking to destabilize the country, urging them to hand over their leaders to Islamabad.
The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently warned the Taliban not to “test the patience of the Pakistani people” regarding terrorism, stressing that the country will no longer tolerate those supporting its enemies.
However, the Taliban has maintained that they do not support TTP operations in Pakistan and have no involvement in recent security incidents there. The Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has previously said that they are not responsible for Pakistan’s internal security issues.
