ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has accused the Afghan government of giving space to TTP militants by including hundreds of their sympathizers within its governing structure.
Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Office, Dar said both Pakistan and China have expressed strong security concerns. He made it clear that Kabul must take decisive action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters or hand them over to Islamabad.
“Pakistan and China both face security threats. We told Afghanistan in clear terms, either act against the TTP militants or transfer them to us. The Afghan government has absorbed hundreds of pro-TTP elements into its system,” Dar stated, reflecting the lowest point in relations between the two neighbors.
Dar also mentioned his meeting with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul. According to him, Afghanistan had claimed to establish 700 border posts to stop cross-border infiltration. “I do not doubt their intentions. Afghanistan did not resist our proposals. But we had only one demand — strict action against the TTP militants,” he added.
When questioned about Afghanistan’s recent demarche, Dar avoided denying reports of Pakistani drone strikes in Afghan territory. He replied that the allegations needed investigation. “I have been busy but went through the demarche this morning,” he remarked.
On Thursday, the Afghan government summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul. The protest note accused Pakistan of conducting air strikes in Nangarhar and Khost provinces.
Dar was also asked why no joint statement came out of the trilateral talks between Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan. He explained that modern diplomacy had new practices. “Each country spoke to its own media. That is equal to a joint statement. This should not create any negative impact,” he said.
The foreign minister further disclosed that China had in principle agreed to Pakistan’s proposal of extending CPEC into Afghanistan. Beijing would also study the possibility of linking Kabul with the Peshawar Highway.
