Pakistan, China reaffirm commitment to Afghan stability

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has briefed China about the use of Afghan territory by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates, and shared fresh evidence on how the neighbouring country is threatening regional peace.

The evidence was shared with the Chinese special envoy on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong during his visit to Islamabad on Monday, official sources told The Express Tribune.

The Chinese top diplomat on Afghan affairs travelled to the capital just days after the Russian special envoy Zamir Kabulov visited Islamabad to discuss the latest developments in the neighbouring country with Pakistani authorities.

A statement issued here by the Foreign Office said the Chinese special envoy met Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. He also held detailed consultations with the Additional Foreign Secretary (Afghanistan and West Asia), Ambassador Ahmad Naseem Warraich.

“The two sides exchanged views on relations with Afghanistan. They reaffirmed the vital role of neighbouring countries for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan,” read the brief statement issued by the FO.

Sources, however, said Pakistan briefed the Chinese envoy on the current situation in Afghanistan and how the neighbouring country’s territory was still being used by terrorist groups such as TTP and others.

Sources said authorities in Islamabad shared compelling evidence with the Chinese diplomat about the terrorist sanctuaries across the border posing a threat to Pakistan’s security.

The Chinese envoy was told that the Afghan Taliban were not doing enough to curb the activities of those groups despite repeated calls by Pakistan and the international community.

Pakistani authorities told the Chinese envoy that it was time to take a collective stance against the Afghan Taliban in order to persuade them to meet the promises they made to the international community.

China in the past tried to mediate between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government on the issue of TTP but those efforts could not deliver the results.

The main reason was that the interim Taliban government remained adamant not to use the force or evict the TTP terrorists from their soil.

Pakistan believes that China still has leverage over the Taliban and it can push Kabul to address Islamabad’s concerns.

Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Islamabad was initially jubilant over the Taliban’s return as it thought they would not allow Afghan soil to be used against Pakistan. But contrary to those expectations, the TTP and other terrorist groups were only emboldened under Taliban rule.

The Afghan Taliban’s refusal to act against the TTP has undermined the bilateral relationship to the extent that the two countries have now only maintained limited contact.

Pakistan has made it clear that any progress in bilateral cooperation hinges on the Taliban taking decisive and verifiable action against terrorist sanctuaries.