The leader of the Taliban has requested the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to reconsider their strategy towards Pakistan and reduce acts of violence, as reported by Pakistan's Express Tribune citing sources.
The message from Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, was conveyed to Pakistani authorities by the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, during his recent visit to Afghanistan where he met Taliban leaders, including Hibatullah in Kandahar.
Express Tribune in its report stated that Pakistani authorities are currently assessing the message from the Taliban leader, but initial reactions do not seem very positive. A source informed the newspaper that the message from the Taliban leader to end violence is not effective, and added, “What we want is a permanent solution.”
In his message to Pakistani authorities, the Taliban leader stated that the only solution to issues is dialogue and that the group is ready to establish an office for resuming talks.
Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, Pakistan initiated negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) facilitated by the Afghan Taliban. This newspaper reported that as a result of these negotiations, the Pakistani government released several TTP members from prisons. However, this action backfired, and TTP members resumed armed conflict against the nation.
The newspaper added that the Pakistani government's negotiations with TTP failed, and with the change in the army's command in November 2022, TTP unilaterally called off the ceasefire. Since then, attacks in Pakistan have increased, and the Pakistani government says it is no longer willing to negotiate with the TTP.
Sources told Express Tribune that despite the Afghan Taliban leader's request for mediation to revive talks with the Pakistani Taliban, the Pakistani government has shown no interest in continuing these discussions.
However, sources mentioned that Maulana Fazlur Rehman's trip to Afghanistan was not without impact and has somewhat thawed relations between the two sides.
In recent months, credible sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that an order from Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, has been issued, declaring war in Pakistan as forbidden and “haram”.
