ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Ata Tarar expressed Pakistan’s gratitude towards Turkey and Qatar for their mediation efforts. However, he emphasised that Pakistan maintains its principled stance: the responsibility for terrorism originating from Afghan soil lies with the Afghan government.
In a statement issued by Tarar on Friday noted that the Afghan Taliban have yet to fulfil their international, regional, and bilateral commitments as outlined in the Doha Peace Agreement of 2021. He reiterated that Pakistan harbours goodwill towards the Afghan people and desires a peaceful future for them.
The Information Minister also stated that Pakistan will not support actions taken by the Taliban government that do not benefit the Afghan people or neighbouring countries. Pakistan will continue to take necessary measures to protect its citizens and uphold its national sovereignty.
It’s important to mention that the second round of talks between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations began in Istanbul on October 25, following several days of border clashes. Islamabad’s concerns about terrorist attacks originating from Kabul contributed to the stalemate in discussions. On October 29, Pakistan announced the failure of the talks and that its delegation was preparing to return home. However, Turkey and Qatar managed to revive the negotiation process within a week.
