New Delhi: Describing India as a very important country in the region, the Taliban said after India’s Afghanistan conference that they wanted good diplomatic ties with the Indian government. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also assured that as per the “policy of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan”, its land will not be used against any country and that Taliban want mutual cooperation. “Though we are not present in this conference, we firmly believe that this conference is in…
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ISLAMABAD: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Islamabad police has arrested three persons allegedly associated with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Speaking at a press conference, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jamil Zafar Malik said the suspects used to write letters to businessmen and owners of educational institutions demanding extortion money. The terrorists demanded Rs300 million through 10 letters sent to different people, he said, adding that they also wrote to the CTD threatening its officials with…
Government defends, Opposition rejects talks with TTP : by Shafqat Ali in The Nation, Oct 23rd, 2021
ISLAMABAD – The government yesterday defended talks with the reconcilable elements in the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and the opposition parties claimed the talks proposal by the government had bypassed the Parliament as they gathered at a webinar here to discuss the issue. Speaking virtually at a dialogue of the political parties on government talks with TTP, hosted by the Islamabad Policy Institute, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that talks with the TTP were meant to wean…
THE sense of déjà-vu is unmistakable. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is in the grip of an unfolding nightmare, one that the country had hoped to never witness again after the military operations in the area some years ago. On Wednesday, four security personnel were martyred in KP’s Bajaur district when a roadside bomb exploded near the Afghan border. That same morning, a sepoy fell in the line of duty during an exchange of gunfire with militants at…
The writer is from Fata and has adegree in human rights from the University of London.Some terrorism analysts advocate that engagement of hostile terrorist groups is an element of a successful counterterrorism campaign. However, such negotiations should be pursued if the conditions on the ground are favourable for the terrorist group’s transition. Prime Minister Imran Khan in a recent interview admitted to having initiated engagement with parts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. What are the favourable…
Islamabad : In the third quarter of 2021, an uptick was observed in fatalities from violence with the loss of 237 persons as opposed to 203 for the last quarter. This was stated in CRSS Quarterly Security Report issued here by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). The report said that KP province, once again, recorded the highest number of fatalities from violence in the country and the majority of the victims hailed from…
Islamabad/Lahore: Civil society, human rights activists organised a demonstration in front of the National Press Club to protest against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s announced “reconciliation, forgiveness and peace plan with Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and to show solidarity with APS parents and families. The protesters were holding placards and shouted slogans to demand justice for the families of terrorism victims. They reminded the government of the agony and grief of APS victims and their families and…
The writer is a PhD scholar at Nust.The Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was formed in 2007 in response to the army’s action against non-state actors in north and south Waziristan. After the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, several foreign militants belonging to Al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban had sought refuge in Pakistan’s tribal areas. The Pakistan Army went in to sanitise the area of their unwelcome presence in 2002, starting with Tirah Valley…
The writer is a retired major general and has an interest in International Relations and Political Sociology.There is a lot of talk about the talk of offering factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) aka ‘Pakistani Taliban’ amnesty. TTP on Oct 1 declared cessation of hostilities (orbandi) including a ceasefire (dazbandi) for twenty days in ‘South Waziristan District’, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Prime Minister Imran Khan acknowledged the talks for a ‘negotiated end to the longstanding conflict’. The talks…
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that only their recognition is less impactful and the US must recognize the Taliban sooner or later. He said that not only them, but the US, China, Russia, and European Union must come forward and recognize the Taliban. Imran Khan in his interview with AP said that the US should unfreeze billions of dollars of the people of Afghanistan to avert the looming humanitarian crisis in the country. He…
Pakistani Taliban: a Cause of Concern For Islamabad : Op-ed by Manish Rai in Daily Times, Oct 21st, 2021
The writer is a columnist for Middle-East and Af-Pak regionAttacks carried out by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) aka Pakistani Taliban have increased to the highest level in over four years after the US left Afghanistan and the Afghan Taliban took power. The TTP has been emboldened by the developments in next-door Afghanistan. This has complicated the internal security scenario for Pakistan as the country is also fighting the Baloch insurgency. The TTP was believed to be…