Pakistan rejects mediation offer on TTP

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Thursday turned down a fresh mediation offer by the Afghan Taliban on the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as the Foreign Office said the country would not negotiate with terrorists.

“I would like to invite you to a statement made by our foreign minister, in which the FM stated that Pakistan will not negotiate with individuals who are responsible for the killing of Pakistani civilians and law enforcement officials,” the spokesperson told a weekly news briefing here when asked to comment on the latest offer of mediation by the Afghan Taliban.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch’s response came after Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said Kabul was ready to mediate between Pakistan and the TTP.

There were reports that recently a Pakistani tribal delegation met the TTP chief in Kabul in the presence of a senior Afghan Taliban leader. The spokesperson, however, would not comment.

After the takeover in August 2021, the Afghan Taliban brokered talks between Pakistan and the TTP.

Talks initially did produce results as the TTP announced a ceasefire in return of Pakistan freeing certain militants. As part of the confidence-building measures, Pakistan in a controversial move also allowed hundreds of TTP militants to return to the country.

The process broke down when the TTP intensified terrorist attacks targeting the security forces. A day before the change of army command in November, the TTP ended the truce.

The civil and military leadership then revisited the strategy, deciding not to seek talks with the TTP. They also termed the policy of the previous government to let TTP terrorists return as thoughtless, something that allowed the outfit to regroup.

Greek ship tragedy

The spokesperson said 12 Pakistani nationals were among the 104 survivors. “They are in good physical condition. Unfortunately, we have been unable to verify the number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and missing,” Mumtaz said.

“Greek authorities have recovered 82 bodies. Their identification will take place through DNA matching. Relevant authorities have started collecting DNA samples from the families of those who are suspected to be onboard and will be sharing this with the Greek authorities,” she added.

She said Ambassador Aamar Aftab and his team at the Mission in Greece worked round the clock for recovering and identifying the Pakistani nationals who were missing or feared dead and for providing relief to the survivors.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke to his Greek counterpart to discuss arrangements for the recovery of the missing, identifying the bodies and providing relief to the survivors. “Our efforts will continue.”

Meanwhile, Bilawal will undertake an official visit to Japan on July 2-3 at the invitation of Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa.

In Tokyo, the foreign minister will hold substantive talks with FM Hayashi.

They will discuss bilateral trade and investment, cooperation in science and technology, education, information technology, culture and human resource development. They will also discuss important regional and global developments and cooperation and dialogue at multilateral forums.