Islamabad to convey strong message to Kabul on TTP

Ambassador Durrani to express Pakistan’s concerns to Afghanistan amid growing impatience

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has decided to dispatch its pointman on Afghanistan to Kabul this week, officials said on Tuesday, to deliver a clear message on the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani will travel to the Afghan capital on Wednesday against the backdrop of simmering tensions between the two countries on the issue of terror safe havens.

Pakistan has stepped up pressure on the Afghan interim government to tackle the TTP threat, as the country's defense minister and the army chief issued stern warning to Kabul.

There has been a surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. A series of attacks in Balochistan prompted Army chief General Asim Munir to remind the Afghan Taliban of the promises they made with the international community not to allow their soil to be used against other countries.

Read After Pakistan, US cautions Taliban regime over Afghanistan becoming terrorist 'safe haven'

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif went a step further and accused Afghanistan for not fulling duties of a responsible neighbour. He lamented that while Pakistan hosted millions of Afghanistan refugees for decades, the Afghan Taliban were providing refuge to people who were spilling the blood in Pakistan.

After strong criticism, the Afghan Taliban rejected Pakistani claims and said the TTP was not operating out of the Afghan soil.

The Corps commanders, however, rejected the Afghan claims and said TTP not only had sanctuaries across the border but also access to latest weapons.

Official sources said Ambassador Durrani, who has recently been appointed as special envoy, would deliver a clear message to the Taliban leadership that Pakistan's patience was running out.

Previous efforts to convince the Afghan Taliban have failed and observers are skeptical if the latest push by Pakistan would make any difference.

The TTP has emerged a major stumbling block between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. Contrary to Pakistan’s expectations, the Afghan Taliban are reluctant to go after the TTP.

Officials privately admit that the Afghan Taliban and TTP are the different sides of the same coin.

Since the change of army leadership, Pakistan has been pursing more aggressive stance. The United States on Tuesday backed Pakistan's call for action against the terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

The State Department spokesperson said it was the responsibility of Afghan Taliban not to allow their soil to be used against other countries.