Taliban lays down law: 4 conditions for Pakistan talks amidst rising tensions
Istanbul (The Uttam Hindu): Terrorism and cross-border security were discussed in depth during crucial nine-hour bilateral talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul, Turkey. Hosted by Turkey, the two countries discussed the creation of a joint mechanism to combat terrorist activities.
A seven-member Pakistani delegation has submitted a detailed plan to the Taliban government in Afghanistan, reiterating its demand for the elimination of terrorists and their camps operating on Afghan soil. The draft specifically calls for strong action against Fitna al-Khawarij and other terrorist groups. According to sources, the plan is currently under review by the Taliban administration. Pakistan wants Afghanistan to develop a system to stop cross-border terrorist infiltration and attacks.
The Taliban's four conditions came to the fore, while discussing Pakistan's proposal, the Afghan side put forward four main conditions-
* A monitoring mechanism should be created between the two countries so that hostile activities can be stopped.
* Existing laws should be strictly followed to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
* There should be an impartial review of the root causes of Pakistan's security challenges over the last two decades.
* Trade barriers should be eliminated, the forced return of Afghan refugees should be stopped, and this humanitarian issue should not be politicized.
Tensions escalated, leading to threats of war
During the talks, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif further heated up the situation with a statement. He threatened that if the differences are not resolved through dialogue, an open war could break out between the two countries. Asif said, "We have several options. If the situation does not improve, open conflict could be one of them."
The two sides have agreed to hold the third round of talks in the coming two days. Experts believe this dialogue could prove crucial for regional stability in South Asia, as escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan could impact the security of the entire region.