Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has claimed that Pakistan and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were on the verge of reaching a deal, but Islamabad backed out. Muttaqi made these assertions during a conversation with Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed in Tehran, where they had an informal discussion over dinner.
According to Mushahid, the focus of their conversation was the current state of relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regarding the issue of the TTP. Muttaqi informed Mushahid that Afghanistan was eager to resolve all outstanding issues with Pakistan through dialogue.
Muttaqi further revealed that after a series of meetings between Pakistani officials and TTP leaders, most of the issues had been resolved. Both sides were close to finalizing a deal, mediated by the Afghan Taliban. The only remaining point of contention was the merger of the formerly Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The TTP insisted on the reversal of the Fata merger, but Pakistan withdrew from the talks, leading to a stalemate.
While Pakistani officials blamed the TTP for using the negotiations as a means to regroup, they had set clear conditions for any potential deal. These conditions included accepting the authority of the state, adhering to the Constitution and the law, and complete disarmament. Pakistan considered the Fata merger a non-negotiable aspect.
Mushahid highlighted a couple of significant points from his conversation with Muttaqi. Firstly, Muttaqi emphasized that Afghanistan instinctively reacts negatively to pressure, rejecting any intimidation or threats. Secondly, Mushahid observed a lack of high-level communication channels between the leadership of Islamabad and Kabul, which led to issues becoming mired in blame games and recriminations. This failure in communication between neighboring countries with shared interests is concerning.
