The Foreign Office has shared its position on the third round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul.
FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said this round of talks concluded on November 7th, and Pakistan appreciated the positive mediation efforts by Turkey and Qatar.
“For the past four years, since the Taliban regime came to power in Afghanistan, there has been sharp surge in terrorist attacks emanating from Afghan soil on Pakistan. Throughout these years, Pakistan, despite suffering military and civilian causalities, exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate”, the office said in a statement.
“Pakistan’s expectation was that with passage of time, Taliban regime would be able to control these attacks and take concrete actions against the TTP/FaK elements present on Afghan soil”, the office added.
According to the Foreign Office, the Taliban government has provided shelter to terrorists and supported their activities.
The office also said “Afghanistan has tried to confuse the main issue with other relatively irrelevant and hypothetical issues. By confusing the main issue of terrorism, it keeps trying to develop a narrative which absolves Taliban regime of its commitments and responsibilities towards international community and its own people.”
The statement concluded: “Mandated by the Parliament and the Constitution of Pakistan, the Armed Forces of Pakistan have rendered countless sacrifices in the war against terror and shall continue to do so, with full support of the people of Pakistan. Pakistan remains committed to resolution of bilateral differences through dialogue. However, Pakistan’s core concern, i.e. terrorism emanating from Afghanistan needs to be addressed first and foremost. Pakistan’s Armed Forces and its people are well determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from its soil and take action against its supporters, abettors and financiers.”
