(Forelines): Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the continuous terrorist activities of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from across the Afghanistan border, urging them intolerable and a red line, and called the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to take sudden action against the group, according to ARY News report on Friday.
During a federal cabinet meeting, Shehbaz Sharif stressed that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghanistan, continues to launch attacks and kill innocent people in Pakistan.
“This cannot go on. We have conveyed to the Afghan government that we desire good ties with them, but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people. This is a red line. TTP operating from there against Pakistan is unacceptable,” said Shehbaz Sharif, as cited by ARY News.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the significance of friendly ties with Afghanistan, especially in sectors such as trade and economy, given their shared border, and stated that Pakistan is open to discussions with the Afghan administration, but stressed that a strategy permitting the TTP to operate against Pakistan is unacceptable.
“We want friendly relations with each other and collaboration in the economy, trade, and other areas,” Shehbaz Sharif stated as cited by ARY News.
This came after the recent airstrike by the Pakistani military in Afghanistan’s Barmal district, located in Paktika province on December 24, which resulted in the death of 46 people, including women and children, and also injured six in the process.
The Pakistani military stated that the airstrikes targeted Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bases in the region, reportedly killing multiple militants and destroying four TTP facilities, according to a Khaama Press report citing Pakistani media outlets aligned with the military.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence disputed the claim that the airstrike exclusively targeted militants, stating that it also impacted “Waziristani refugees.” This escalation in violence has heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the Taliban issuing a warning of potential retaliation, according to Khaama Press.