Afghanistan’s Taliban mediate ceasefire between Pakistan, local militants
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Saud Mehsud
KABUL (Reuters) – The Taliban in Afghanistan have mediated a short lived ceasefire between Pakistan and an area Pakistani Taliban militant group following talks between the 2 sides in Kabul, an official mentioned on Wednesday.
The Pakistani Taliban – generally known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – has carried out a few of the bloodiest assaults inside Pakistan since 2007. It’s not immediately affiliated with the Afghan Taliban, however pledges allegiance to them.
“Through the talks, along with vital progress on associated points, a short lived ceasefire was additionally agreed upon,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid mentioned on Twitter, confirming the talks in Kabul.
Pakistan carried out a variety of operations in opposition to the TTP, however, regardless of lowering the militant group’s footprint, it has not been capable of absolutely cease assaults, which, in current months, have begun to rise once more alongside its western border.
A TTP assertion on Wednesday additionally confirmed that talks had been underway in Kabul and {that a} ceasefire has been put in place will Might 30.
It was not clear who was representing Pakistan’s authorities within the talks. Pakistan’s overseas workplace spokesman didn’t reply to Reuters’ request for remark.
Islamabad says the TTP have been capable of finding secure haven in Afghanistan through the years – a cost each the Taliban and the earlier U.S.-backed governments have denied.
Final yr, the 2 sides had agreed to a ceasefire however talks failed. The talks, additionally held inside Afghanistan, broke down as a consequence of a disagreement over the discharge of TTP prisoners held by Pakistan, based on native media.
Pakistan can also be at the moment coping with a surge of assaults by separatist insurgents in its southwestern province of Balochistan, which additionally borders Afghanistan.
(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; Enhancing by Angus MacSwan)
