Pakistan National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf on Saturday dashed to Kabul, in an unannounced trip, to hold talks with the Taliban amid the growing TTP violence back home. His earlier planned visit, two weeks back, had to be canceled following protests against Pakistan in the Afghan capital. 

Yusuf, along with his delegation, will hold talks with senior Taliban officials, confirmed the Taliban’s deputy spokesperson Inamullah Sarangani. Prior to the visit, Mansoor Ahmed Khan, the Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan, also held a meeting with the Taliban’s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. 

During the visit, officials will discuss humanitarian assistance and economic engagement reported TOLOnews. Five months have passed since its return to power, the Taliban has failed to get recognition by the international community, and Islamabad remains the only country backing its bid. 

The visit is important as it comes amid the growing tension between the countries. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned militant group, sharing fraternal ties with the Afghan Taliban, has intensified its violence in the country’s northwestern region. 

Pakistan has been putting pressure on the Taliban to act against the TTP, which finds safe haven under the Taliban regime in bordering Afghan provinces. 

Furthermore, border skirmishes along the Durand Line, the internationally recognized border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, further strained ties. 

The Durand Line, a 2670 km long line drawn arbitrarily by British diplomat Mortimer Durand in the late 19th century, divides the Pashtun tribes and families of the trans-border region and is not recognized by Afghanistan as the border. 

Taliban fighters, on many occasions in the past few weeks, have stopped Pakistan security forces from fencing the border. Islamabad is also under domestic pressure to take a tough line on the Afghan Taliban as the latter continues to provide sanctuaries to the TTP. 

Yusuf has publicly blamed Kabul for turning a blind eye to anti-Pakistan activities being hatched across the border.

Importantly, earlier this month, Pakistan has reportedly resumed peace dialogue with the TTP in Afghanistan. The earlier attempt of making peace failed after the month-long ceasefire between the TTP and Pakistan came to end in December last year. 

(SAM)