- Title: Taliban won't allow TTP militants to attack Pakistan, says Pakistani minister
- Date: 30th August 2021
- Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 30, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF PAKISTAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER, SHEIKH RASHID AHMAD, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE / GETTING SEATED REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER, SHEIKH RASHID AHMAD, SAYING: "As far as TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) is concerned, the Taliban have reassured us that they will not allow them to do that (carry out attacks on Pakistani territory). However, the Taliban have had a long standing animosity with Daesh, ISIS (Islamic State). The Taliban defeated ISIS in Ghazni and also in Logar. Right now, ISIS is present in the Nuristan mountains, in Kunar and in the Nangarhar region. TTP may also be present in Kunar and in the Nuristan mountains. But we have been given reassurance and we have full confidence in the Taliban government that their territory (Afghanistan) will not be used (by TTP) against Pakistan. Thank God, the Pakistan army is present on the (Pakistan-Afghanistan) border, on every single inch of the border, and they are performing their duties." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER, SHEIKH RASHID AHMAD, SAYING: "Afghanistan's peace is our peace. We have offered our services to the world, and we have given on-arrival (temporary) visas to 1,627 people who arrived (from Afghanistan) via our airport, and 2,192 to people who entered through Torkham. There were 1,200-1,400 Afghanis (in transit) among them. So, we can say that we have facilitated it. However, arriving here is their own responsibility." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER, SHEIKH RASHID AHMAD, SAYING: "Ours was an exercise of a total of 3,000 people (leaving Afghanistan through Pakistan, while in transit to another destination). The reports about 20,000 or 40,000 - we should have immediately refuted all the (fake) news doing the rounds in the world's media in this regard; we faltered here. We had made preparations for the arrival of 3,000 people (refugees) in Islamabad (from Afghanistan); the preparations are still in place. But this has not happened yet; flights are not coming in. If flights are not coming in, how could we have taken 3,000 people in?"
- Embargoed: 13th September 2021 17:49
- Keywords: afghanistan attacks isis militants pakistani interior minister refugees taliban ttp
- Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ESGZKUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Monday (August 30) that the Taliban have assured his government they won't allow Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Afghanistan to carry out attacks on Pakistan.
The TTP, an Islamist militant umbrella organisation which renewed an allegiance to the Afghan Taliban after the fall of Kabul, has recently stepped up its campaign against the Pakistani army.
"TTP may also be present in Kunar and in the mountains of Nuristan. But we have been given reassurance and we have full confidence in the Taliban government that their territory will not be used against Pakistan," Ahmad told a news conference in Islamabad.
Militant fire from across the border in Afghanistan killed two Pakistani soldiers on Sunday (August 29), the army said, in the first such attack since the Taliban took over Kabul two weeks ago.
The army said it retaliated and killed two or three attackers, a claim not verifiable because the tribal districts along the Afghan border are off limits to journalists and human rights organisations.
The incident in Pakistan's Bajaur district was the first of its kind reported since the Taliban took over the Afghan capital on Aug. 15.
The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack in a Telegram message shared with a Reuters journalist, and denied having suffered any losses in the retaliatory fire.
Islamabad accuses the TTP of having used Afghanistan as a base from where to carry a suicide attack in northern Pakistan in July that killed nine Chinese workers and four Pakistanis.
The Afghan Taliban's spokesman Zabihullah Muhaid said in his maiden news conference that the Islamist militants wouldn't allow any group to use Afghan soil against anyone.
Asked about media reports that Pakistan had given refuge to thousands of Afghans fleeing their country after the takeover by the Taliban, Ahmad said they were not true.
He said Pakistan had offered on-arrival visas for 21 days to transit passengers who landed in Islamabad from Afghanistan, and had to wait for their onward flights.
(Production: Salah Uddin, Sheree Sardar) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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