Pakistan's Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani could share a dossier on activities of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) across the border and the access to heavy and sophisticated weaponry that the group has managed to acquire in the aftermath of American withdrawal.
Sources suggest that the document will likely be shared in discussions between Durrani and the acting Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, during the former's three-day official tour of Kabul.
Durrani's visit, from July 19 to 21, comes at a critical time in the relations between the two countries.
https://twitter.com/QaharBalkhi/status/1681718138684035073/
Pakistan has been struck by a vicious surge in militant activity recently. This included two suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and attempts to attack a police check post deep in Pakistani territory by militants right as Durrani arrived in Kabul -- a sort of message sent to both Kabul and Islamabad.
Pakistan, though, believes that TTP's militants are getting material support and instructions from base camps operating across the border in Afghanistan.
Officially, the Foreign Office in its weekly press briefing on Thursday had said that Durrani will engage in wide-ranging discussions encompassing the entire gamut of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, "including the terrorist threat and terrorist acts that emanate from Afghanistan".
READ MORE: Trouble On The Western Frontier
"Pakistan has, and will continue to raise issues of our concern with the Afghan authorities. We believe that Afghanistan has given certain commitments, including in the trilateral agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan and China," said FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. "That outcome document, you have all seen, clearly states that Afghanistan would not allow any individual or group including the TTP and ETIM to pose a threat to regional security."
"So, we hope that Afghanistan will adhere to the commitments that it has made to Pakistan and the international community and ensure that its soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan."
Ambassador Durrani is expected to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to work closely with Afghanistan in promoting the mutually reinforcing goals of regional peace and security.
Further, he was expected to assure Muttaqi and others that Pakistan would continue actively engage with the interim Afghan government on all issues of interest.
However, sources indicate there are some pressing matters to discuss as well.
In his three-day visit to Kabul, Durrani plans to hand over a dossier about TTP's activities, weapons in their use, and other important matters.
In a meeting with acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi and other senior officials, Durrani was expected to remind Kabul of the pledges made in Islamabad, sources shared with The Friday Times.
Pakistan's request for relocating/shifting TTP away from the Pakistani border was also expected to be discussed in great, said sources privy to the developments said.
Islamabad has expressed deep concerns about the freedom provided to the TTP by the Afghans to operate in border areas and to cross over freely. The biggest example of that was the attack on a military garrison in Zhob, which remained under attack for several hours and resulted in the martyrdom of nine soldiers.
READ MORE: Pakistan Military Has ‘Serious Concerns’ With TTP Operating Freely In Afghanistan
The military subsequently expressed disappointment with Kabul in its inability or reluctance to manage the TTP on its side, especially restricting their access to sophisticated weapons left behind by the allied forces.
The military's strong rebuke was followed by a statement by Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who accused the Afghan Taliban government in Kabul of not honouring their commitments under the Doha accord to not allow Afghan soil to be used against others.
READ MORE: Asif Questions Taliban’s Will To Curb Terrorism Within Afghanistan
In response to Pakistan, the Afghan interim government's spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied Kabul's involvement. He said they did not allow the TTP to live and operate in Afghanistan.
"We have faced the consequences of wars and do not want others to suffer like Afghanistan," he remarked, talking to a private newspaper.
According to a past agreement between Kabul and Islamabad, the relocation of the TTP to other parts of Afghanistan away from Pakistan's borders was discussed.
Even Muttaqi, in a recent visit, agreed with Islamabad over the relocation of the TTP.
Thousands of TTP and their families live in Khost, Paktia and Kunar provinces, straddling the 2,670 kilometres (1,659 miles) of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan with 18 designated points of entry and an innumerable number of holes cut in border fences and mountain terrain that can be crossed on foot.
Pakistan accuses the TTP of using these areas to launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan has been one of the leading advocates of the Afghan cause. Pakistan has urged the global community to solve the issue through engagement rather than abandonment.
Last month, The Friday Times reported that some factions of the TTP may link up with Islamic State in Iraq and Levant-Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) -- Da'ish, if pushed by the Afghan Taliban to relocate or shift away from the Pakistani border.
READ MORE: TTP Factions May Join ISIS If Pressured By Afghan Taliban
The Afghan Taliban has to face a bit of a difficult situation if they practically start the process of relocation of TTP members residing with their families.
Sources suggest that the document will likely be shared in discussions between Durrani and the acting Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, during the former's three-day official tour of Kabul.
Durrani's visit, from July 19 to 21, comes at a critical time in the relations between the two countries.
https://twitter.com/QaharBalkhi/status/1681718138684035073/
Pakistan has been struck by a vicious surge in militant activity recently. This included two suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and attempts to attack a police check post deep in Pakistani territory by militants right as Durrani arrived in Kabul -- a sort of message sent to both Kabul and Islamabad.
Pakistan, though, believes that TTP's militants are getting material support and instructions from base camps operating across the border in Afghanistan.
Officially, the Foreign Office in its weekly press briefing on Thursday had said that Durrani will engage in wide-ranging discussions encompassing the entire gamut of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, "including the terrorist threat and terrorist acts that emanate from Afghanistan".
READ MORE: Trouble On The Western Frontier
"Pakistan has, and will continue to raise issues of our concern with the Afghan authorities. We believe that Afghanistan has given certain commitments, including in the trilateral agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan and China," said FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch. "That outcome document, you have all seen, clearly states that Afghanistan would not allow any individual or group including the TTP and ETIM to pose a threat to regional security."
"So, we hope that Afghanistan will adhere to the commitments that it has made to Pakistan and the international community and ensure that its soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan."
Ambassador Durrani is expected to reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to work closely with Afghanistan in promoting the mutually reinforcing goals of regional peace and security.
Further, he was expected to assure Muttaqi and others that Pakistan would continue actively engage with the interim Afghan government on all issues of interest.
However, sources indicate there are some pressing matters to discuss as well.
In his three-day visit to Kabul, Durrani plans to hand over a dossier about TTP's activities, weapons in their use, and other important matters.
In a meeting with acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi and other senior officials, Durrani was expected to remind Kabul of the pledges made in Islamabad, sources shared with The Friday Times.
Pakistan's request for relocating/shifting TTP away from the Pakistani border was also expected to be discussed in great, said sources privy to the developments said.
Islamabad has expressed deep concerns about the freedom provided to the TTP by the Afghans to operate in border areas and to cross over freely. The biggest example of that was the attack on a military garrison in Zhob, which remained under attack for several hours and resulted in the martyrdom of nine soldiers.
READ MORE: Pakistan Military Has ‘Serious Concerns’ With TTP Operating Freely In Afghanistan
The military subsequently expressed disappointment with Kabul in its inability or reluctance to manage the TTP on its side, especially restricting their access to sophisticated weapons left behind by the allied forces.
The military's strong rebuke was followed by a statement by Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who accused the Afghan Taliban government in Kabul of not honouring their commitments under the Doha accord to not allow Afghan soil to be used against others.
READ MORE: Asif Questions Taliban’s Will To Curb Terrorism Within Afghanistan
In response to Pakistan, the Afghan interim government's spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied Kabul's involvement. He said they did not allow the TTP to live and operate in Afghanistan.
"We have faced the consequences of wars and do not want others to suffer like Afghanistan," he remarked, talking to a private newspaper.
According to a past agreement between Kabul and Islamabad, the relocation of the TTP to other parts of Afghanistan away from Pakistan's borders was discussed.
Even Muttaqi, in a recent visit, agreed with Islamabad over the relocation of the TTP.
Thousands of TTP and their families live in Khost, Paktia and Kunar provinces, straddling the 2,670 kilometres (1,659 miles) of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan with 18 designated points of entry and an innumerable number of holes cut in border fences and mountain terrain that can be crossed on foot.
Pakistan accuses the TTP of using these areas to launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan has been one of the leading advocates of the Afghan cause. Pakistan has urged the global community to solve the issue through engagement rather than abandonment.
Last month, The Friday Times reported that some factions of the TTP may link up with Islamic State in Iraq and Levant-Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) -- Da'ish, if pushed by the Afghan Taliban to relocate or shift away from the Pakistani border.
READ MORE: TTP Factions May Join ISIS If Pressured By Afghan Taliban
The Afghan Taliban has to face a bit of a difficult situation if they practically start the process of relocation of TTP members residing with their families.