The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has criticized the current government led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for fostering an environment of appeasement towards the banned Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In an interview with the private news agency, Bilawal deemed the PTI’s approach as “incorrect” and vowed that the present administration has put an end to such policies.
The government, in its National Security Meeting, has decided to not tolerate any terrorist groups or lawbreakers in the country. Recently, there has been a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the TTP’s announcement to end their ceasefire with Pakistan.
The Pakistani Taliban, consisting mainly of local fighters, has some ideological similarities with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring terrorist groups, but these claims have been denied by the Afghan government.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also implored the Afghan government to not provide safe havens for terrorist organizations on its soil. Despite the restrictions placed on women working in NGOs by the Afghan government, the Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of engaging with the Taliban.
