New York: Reflecting worsening of relations between Pakistan and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, Islamabad has said it would “reconsider” the way it is “engaging” with Kabul.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also slammed the Taliban regime and accused it giving shelter and encouragement to militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has recently announced restart of attacks across Pakistan.
“I can’t wish the Taliban away or Afghanistan away. They are a reality, and they are on my border,” Bilawal told reporters during an interaction while responding to a question about the escalation in border tensions with the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
But “the modes and ways in which we are engaging, particularly within the Pakistani context, and as far as the TTP is concerned, perhaps that can be reconsidered, as far as the strategy is concerned,” he said.
His remarks came against the backdrop of sharp escalation in the incidents of cross-border firing between the Pakistani forces and the Taliban forces.
The Chaman Border-Transit point has particularly been volatile over the last few months as there has been an increased frequency of exchange of fire between the forces of the two countries.
Read more: 3 Pakistani soldiers killed, 5 injured in 2 attacks in Balochistan: BLA
A few days back, heavy artillery shelling and firing was witnessed at the border, resulting in several deaths and injuries on both sides.
At the same time, the TTP has recently announced end to the ceasefire and asked its cadres to carry out attacks across Pakistan.
Bilawal referred to the Doha Agreement signed between the Taliban and the US in February 2020 and the commitments made by the Islamist outfit, like maintaining peace with neighbours and not allowing the soil of Afghanistan to be used for attacks elsewhere.
“But endeavors towards this end appear to have failed. The TTP seems to have been emboldened to declare a war against Pakistan. Its attacks have intensified,” the Pakistan Foreign Minister said.
