The Taliban has mediated a temporary ceasefire between the Pakistan government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Confirming this, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that apart from significant progress on related issues, a temporary ceasefire between Pakistan and TTP has also been agreed. The TTP has also confirmed that talks are going on in Kabul and a ceasefire is going to come into force on 30 May. A Reuters report states that it is not clear who was representing the government of Pakistan in the talks in Kabul.
What is the connection between Pakistan Taliban and Afghanistan Taliban?
The TTP has been involved in the bloodiest attacks in Pakistan since 2007. TTP Afghanistan is not directly linked to Taliban but Afghanistan maintains allegiance to Taliban. Even after the Taliban’s occupation of Afghanistan, the TTP had praised the Afghanistan Taliban and expressed hope that a similar day would come in Pakistan soon.
TTP intensifies attacks in Pakistan
Many operations have been done to eliminate the TTP of Pakistan Army and have succeeded in limiting it, but the Pakistan Army has failed to completely stop the attacks of TTP. Reports suggest that the TTP has once again intensified attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban took over in Afghanistan.
Talks between Pakistan and TTP had failed on ceasefire
Pakistan maintains that the TTP has been able to find safe havens in Afghanistan over the years, although the Taliban and previous Afghan governments have denied the allegation. Last year too, both sides had agreed to a ceasefire but the talks failed. According to reports, the talks had failed due to disagreements over the release of TTP prisoners by the Pakistan government.