ISLAMABAD: TEHRIK-E-TALIBAN PAKISTAN ACTIVITIES HINDER RELATIONS WITH AFGHANISTAN

The activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP, banned in the Russian Federation) jeopardise the establishment of good neighborly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari stated this on December 22, Ariana News reports.

“The Afghan Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) were told that our relationship will not be stable unless the TTP is suppressed," the minister said at a briefing at the Pakistani embassy in Washington.

Islamabad has put its military on high alert due to a rise in attacks by TTP militants, the latest of which was the Bannu hostage-taking that sparked outrage across Pakistan. More than 120 police officers have been killed and more than 125 injured in attacks on police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since the beginning of this year, according to Pakistani media statements.

As Bhutto-Zardari said, Pakistan is ready to assist Afghanistan in operations against militants from the “Pakistani branch”, but only if the Taliban is interested in this. The minister added that the leaders of the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" promised the United States and regional powers that they would take measures against terrorist groups in Afghanistan.