ISLAMABAD: Jalil Abbas Jilani, the interim foreign minister, has asserted that the Afghan authorities have communicated to Pakistan about a decree issued by the leader of the Afghan Taliban, which condemns terrorist attacks within Pakistan. Addressing reporters at the Foreign Office on Wednesday, Jilani stated that officials from the interim Afghan government have affirmed in bilateral meetings that the ameer (leader) of the Afghan Taliban has formally issued a decree opposing terrorist activities directed at Pakistan.
However, Zabihaullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban, has refuted reports concerning any decree issued by the Afghan Taliban chief regarding terror incidents in Pakistan. He clarified that Afghan religious scholars (ulema) had released a decree prohibiting Afghan nationals from participating in conflicts outside Afghanistan.
Jalil Abbas Jilani briefed journalists that Pakistan has been engaging with the Afghan interim government on matters related to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other issues. He characterized the decree from the Afghan Taliban leader as a positive development, expressing that Pakistan has actively contributed to the restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
Regarding economic ties, the foreign minister highlighted that trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has witnessed an increase, highlighting that approximately 2000 goods trucks enter Pakistan from Afghanistan on a daily basis. He anticipated that trade between the two nations will further flourish with the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan.
Jalil Abbas Jilani reassured that elections within Pakistan will be held as scheduled and emphasized that the country faces no external pressure from any nation in this regard.
