Islamabad
\nPakistan has acknowledged steps being taken by the Afghan-led interim government to effectively combat cross-border terrorism and termed the relocation of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from border areas a significant development.
\nAsif Durrani, Pakistan\u2019s special representative on Afghanistan, told Voice of America that Afghanistan\u2019s interim rulers recently initiated certain steps to address Pakistan\u2019s as well as neighbours including China\u2019s cross-border terror concerns.
\n\u201cBut it is premature to speculate on the outcome,\u201d he cautioned.
\nPakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks following Afghan Taliban\u2019s return to power in August 2021 and called upon the interim rulers to take decisive actions against terrorists including the TTP responsible for cross-border attacks.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a serious issue. But steps are being taken to neutralise the TTP. We should also understand that it will take a while, but the process has been initiated,\u201d Durrani said in response to a recent Taliban announcement that TTP militants were being moved away from Afghan areas bordering Pakistan.
\n\u201cThat is a step the Afghan government is taking, so we have to wait and see the results. It is now in the initial stages, so it would be too early to comment,\u201d said the envoy. \u201cBut if this relocation of the TTP can actually happen and lead to peace along our borders, it would be a significant development and we would welcome it.\u201d
\nDurrani added that Pakistani military operations had deprived the TTP of any territorial control and their relocation from border areas suggests they have now also become a \u201cliability\u201d for the Afghan Taliban.
\n\u201cComparatively, Afghanistan is now very peaceful but there are pockets of TTP, ETIM, and other groups that are a source of concern. Both Pakistan and China hope that the Afghan government will take practical measures,\u201d Durrani said.
\n\u201cAs President Biden has also alluded to the cooperation, which Afghan Taliban and American authorities have had in taking counterterrorism measures, the same expectation we have, and the process has started. Hopefully, we will have some positive results in the near future,\u201d Durrani told VOA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad Pakistan has acknowledged steps being taken by the Afghan-led interim government to effectively combat cross-border terrorism and termed the relocation of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from border areas a significant development. Asif Durrani, Pakistan\u2019s special representative on Afghanistan, told Voice of America that Afghanistan\u2019s interim rulers recently initiated certain steps to address Pakistan\u2019s as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-342227","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n