Defence minister says Islamabad has good ties with Taliban govt n Claims TTP leaders resettlement in Pakistan was done through a ‘programme’. ISLAMABAD - Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that even though the relations between Islamabad and Kabul are good, the latter has not succeeded in preventing the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using Afghan soil for launching attacks on Pakistan. “Islamabad has good relations with the ruling Taliban government in Kabul. However, the Afghan authorities have not succeeded in stopping the use of their territory in attacks on Pakistan,” the minister said in an interview with the US broadcaster, Voice of America, yesterday. He said that the matter had been brought up and discussed last month when a meeting between a high-ranking delegation — including he himself and Director General ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum — and Afghan officials was held in Kabul.
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“During the meeting”, he said, “The Taliban expressed their determination to deal with this problem.” The Afghan authorities said that they would not allow their land to be used for terrorism against any country, Asif added. The minister further said that he believed the Afghan Taliban were “distancing” themselves from the proscribed outfit, however, due to the fact that they fought against Nato together in the past, certain “camaraderie” exists between the two sides. During his interview, Asif also alleged that the resettlement of TTP leaders in Pakistan was done through a “programme”. “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has been signalling throughout his political career that he is ideologically supportive of the Taliban. At various points, the international media has even referred to him as 'Taliban Khan'," he said.
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He added that the TTP was in possession of the advanced equipment left behind by the US after its withdrawal, further alleging that India too is still helping them. Stating that the people of tribal areas and KP were not ready to ‘co-exist’ with the Taliban, the defence minister said: “It is noteworthy that people are protesting unarmed against the return of the Taliban.” He also shared that the Taliban were “undermining their gains through restrictions on women”. Speaking on the matter of the political scenario in Pakistan, Asif said that Khan’s “stance keeps changing”. “Imran Khan is blaming the army. I don’t know where Imran Khan stands regarding the US and the army at this time. Starting from America, he has now reached the Punjab IG for conspiring against him. “I don’t understand from his recent statements, whether he stands with the establishment or not, and whether he wants negotiations with the government or not. “There is no clear stand for them. Asad Qaiser and others talk about dialogue. It should be a national dialogue in which the establishment, the media, and members of civil society are present. Only then can national dialogue be successful.”
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