KABUL: The Afghan Taliban have asserted that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) wasn’t part of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan (IEA), the regime in charge in Kabul, as its spokesperson urged the Pakistani Taliban to pursue peace with Islamabad.
TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mahsud, in a video available on social media and purportedly shot during his visit to Pakistan’s northern areas, had declared that his outfit came under the larger “umbrella” of the IEA.
“Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan is a branch of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and is a part of that umbrella on this land,” Mahsud, flanked by armed TTP fighters, can be seen saying in the video as he addressed a group of men.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, in an interview with Arab News, rejected Mahsud’s claim of affiliation with the IEA. “They are not, as an organization, part of IEA and we don’t share the same objectives,” Mujahid added.
“We advise TTP to focus on peace and stability in their country. This is very important so they can prevent any chance for enemies to interfere in the region and in Pakistan. And we request Pakistan to look into their demands for the better of the region,” he added.
Mujahid said the TTP was Pakistan’s internal matter, adding, “The IEA stance is that we do not interfere in other countries’ affairs. We do not interfere in Pakistan’s affairs.”
TTP ends ceasefire
Earlier this week, the TTP declared an end to a month-long ceasefire, accusing the Pakistani government of breaching terms, including a prisoner release agreement and the formation of negotiating committees.
Last month’s ceasefire, which was always set to run until Thursday with the possibility of extending if both parties agreed, was the latest in a series of attempts to broker a settlement to end a conflict that has killed thousands.
The Afghan Taliban’s shock overthrow of the Western-backed government in August gave the talks fresh impetus but the TTP accused Islamabad of failing to respect the ceasefire agreement.
It said the government had not released more than 100 prisoners as promised and had not appointed negotiating teams to conduct talks. It also said security forces had carried out raids while the ceasefire was in force. “In these circumstances, it is not possible to advance the ceasefire,” the group said in a statement.
The TTP decision to end the ceasefire is a big setback to the government’s efforts to secure a peace agreement with the militants waging war against the state for decades.
