Pakistan's Prime Minister Calls On Taliban To Take Decisive Action Against TTP

Three days after Pakistan's airstrikes on Paktika, the country’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the Taliban administration to adopt a decisive policy against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The Taliban must take a clear stance against the TTP, he said, stressing that Pakistan will not tolerate double standards.

Referring to the recent attacks in the country that targeted Pakistani security forces, the Pakistani Prime Minister stressed that the country's military and law enforcement institutions are fully mobilised to fight against terrorism.

In his speech, Shehbaz Sharif added that a Pakistani army officer was also killed in another clash with the TTP.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan has emphasised that he wants strong relations with Afghanistan, especially in the trade and economic sectors.

However, he expressed concern about the continuation of TTP operations from Afghan soil.

According to Pakistan's Express Tribune, he said that Islamabad could no longer tolerate the use of Afghan soil against Pakistani citizens.

"This is a red line for us, we do not accept the activities of the TTP from Afghan soil and we will defend Pakistan's territorial integrity at any cost," Shehbaz Sharif added.

Pakistan's prime minister called on the Taliban to come up with a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.

While Pakistan wants to improve relations with Afghanistan, it is not acceptable for TTP elements to be free in the neighbouring country, he said.

Stressing on the importance of a coherent and decisive policy, he noted, "You can't say one thing and do another."

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) earlier announced that it had killed 16 Pakistani security forces in an attack on a checkpoint in South Waziristan.

Pakistan's military on Friday, December 27, announced that a senior Pakistani army officer and 13 TTP members were killed in separate clashes between its security forces and insurgents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistani officials have always said that TTP members have safe havens in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban, however, have repeatedly rejected the claims of Pakistani officials.

Meanwhile, Pakistani army warplanes bombed Barmal district of Paktika province on Tuesday evening. On Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said that the country had targeted terrorist centres.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that at least 46 people were killed in the attacks, most of them women and children. The Taliban has said that the victims are Waziristani refugees and that the group will respond to Pakistan's attacks.