Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in response to Friday’s deadly suicide attack in Kohat and remarks by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in an interview with Al Arabiya, has accused the Taliban of pretending to be willing to negotiate.
Dawn reported on Sunday, September 20, that Pakistan’s Ministry of Information made the allegation in a statement.
According to the report, Pakistan also rejected the Taliban’s warning of “retaliatory action” if Islamabad conducts military operations inside Afghanistan, and stressed that the Taliban should destroy active terrorist networks instead of “shirking responsibility.”
Zabihullah Mujahid recently told Al Arabiya that the Taliban wants negotiations to resolve tensions with Pakistan.
In the interview, Mujahid warned Pakistan against conducting military operations inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan, however, linked the Taliban’s warning to Friday’s deadly terrorist attack against civilians and police officers during Friday prayers in Kohat.
Relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have become increasingly tense over what Islamabad alleges is the Taliban’s support for anti-Pakistan groups.
