The Taliban government spokesman in Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid has said that leaders must refrain from making “provocative” statements and that their country could not be considered responsible for the attacks that take place in Pakistan.
Mujahid’s comments occur when Pakistan continues to alarm on terrorist outfits, particularly the prohibited Pakistan of Tehreek-I-Taliban (TTP), using Afghan land to carry out attacks through the border. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to choose between maintaining ties with his neighbor or housing terrorists, but the Afghan authorities have constantly denied accusations.
He made these comments during an interview with Imtiaz Gul, the executive director of the Tank Tank Center for Research and Security Studies. According to Gul, the interview, conducted in the thrust language, was recorded during his recent visit to the province of Kandahar in Afghanistan.
During the interview, Gul looked for Mujahid proposals to address recurring problems, such as the TTP or “negative propaganda in the media that harms and poisons relations” between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The spokesman were also asked if he felt the need for some type of “joint mechanism” in such matters.
In his response, Mujahid emphasized that leaders should avoid making “provocative” statements. If statements were issued that had “threatening” nuances, “we cannot stop” others, he said. The Taliban government spokesman continued to say that “giving statements to the media, spoiling the environment and taking military measures is reckless.”
Instead, he emphasized that conversations should be maintained. “There should be more visits, which would create confidence on both sides,” Mujahid added.
He said his government was “discontent with the current environment and the propaganda that was currently happening”, since it was not in the interest of Pakistan or Afghanistan.
Mujahid also stressed that the attacks of militants and terrorists in Pakistan were not a recent event. “It has been happening since 2003.”
“Then Pakistan should take measures to frustrate such attacks,” he said. “Islamabad must also share information with Kabul so we can make efforts to counteract these threats too.”
But, at the same time, Mujahid added that Afghanistan could not be considered responsible for bomb explosions in Bannu or any other Pakistan area.
“Pakistan should guarantee their own security,” he said, even more than Islamabad and Kabul should participate in conversations to discuss the reasons behind the issue of terrorism.
“You must trust us if you think he faces threats from [an entity] In Afghanistan. “
Mujahid’s comments follow a recent statement by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in which he issued a severe message to Kabul, saying that Afghanistan must decide whether he meets Pakistan or the TTP. The Prime Minister’s statement had arrived after he attended the funeral of 12 soldiers in Bannu, who were martyred during an exchange of fire with terrorists in the south of Waziristan.
The issue of terrorists who use Afghan soil against Pakistan, along with frequent border skirmishes, has tensioned ties for a long time between the two countries, with Islamabad repeatedly urging the interim Afghan government to stop allowing its territory to be used for attacks.
Gul also raised this problem during his conversation with Mujahid regarding tense ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Pakistan seems to have drawn a red line with regard to the presence of TTP in Afghanistan,” Gul said, adding that this was seen as the main reason for the growing tensions between the two countries. Gul asked Mujahid if he agreed with this.
Mujahid, however, clearly stated that the TTP was Pakistan’s “internal problem.”
“Pakistan should find a solution to this problem,” he said, adding that Islamabad should not spoil his ties with Kabul on this matter.
He also said that Afghanistan was making efforts to make sure that “nobody uses their land against any other country.”
“No armed person can go to Pakistan from Afghanistan […] The land in some areas is difficult, and some people can take advantage of it.
“We should find a solution to this problem through negotiations and Afghanistan should not be blamed for it. […] We do not want to fight, bloodshed and difficulties in Pakistan. “
Previously in the interview, when they were asked what messages he and the Islamic Emirate had for those in Pakistan, he said he wanted to convey to the leaders and officials that “Afghanistan wanted fraternal ties and that any problem between the two countries should be solved through negotiations.”
“Level the accusations and make threats spoil the environment, which further complicates things,” he said. The spokesman also requested policies and urged religious academics in Pakistan to play a role in maintaining good ties between the two countries.
Finally, he said, he had a message for the people of Pakistan.
“My final message is for the people of Pakistan. Afghans do not want anarchy in Pakistan. Afghanistan does not want difficulties in Pakistan […] Afghanistan wants normalization of ties with Pakistan. “
