Pakistan’s defense minister has stated that negotiating with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is a red line.
In an interview with the Pakistani network Geo News, Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that Islamabad will never negotiate with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, whose hands are stained with the blood of thousands of Pakistanis.
He added: “Our counterpart is the Afghan Taliban, and they were told in Doha that they should address Pakistan’s concerns about terrorist elements and their commanders.”
The Pakistani Defense Minister said that the second round of talks with the Afghan Taliban will begin on Saturday (October 25) in Istanbul and will continue until Monday, October 27.
He added: “The Istanbul talks will determine the roadmap for implementing the Doha agreement.” Turkey and Qatar have significant influence over the Afghan Taliban and their role has been defined as a credible guarantor, so in the event of any violation of the agreement, the guarantor countries will be informed.
During the first round of talks (after violent clashes on each other’s borders), which were held last Saturday night in Doha with the mediation of Qatar and Turkey, Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban agreed to immediately implement a ceasefire and establish mechanisms to establish lasting peace and stability.
The parties agreed to establish an immediate ceasefire and to design mechanisms to establish lasting peace and security between the two countries. According to a report by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides also agreed to hold follow-up meetings in the coming days to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire and to achieve its implementation in a credible and sustainable manner in a way that leads to security and stability in both countries.