PM Shehbaz Demands Afghan Govt Act Against TTP, Calls It a “Red Line”

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday once again urged the Afghan government to take immediate action against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been carrying out terror activities inside Pakistan from across the Afghan border. In his opening remarks during the cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister described TTP’s operations from Afghanistan as a “red line” for Pakistan and emphasized that this could not be allowed to continue.

“Unfortunately, TTP is operating from Afghanistan and carrying out terror attacks, killing innocent people inside Pakistan. This cannot go on. We have conveyed to the Afghan government that we desire good ties with them, but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people,” he said. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fostering cordial relations with Afghanistan but emphasized that the TTP’s cross-border activities were unacceptable.

Sharif highlighted the importance of cooperation between the two countries, noting their long shared border and the potential for improved relations in trade, economy, and other sectors. He called on the Afghan government to develop a clear strategy to tackle the issue, stressing that Pakistan was open to dialogue but could not engage in talks while the TTP continued its operations.

The Prime Minister also assured that Pakistan’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies remained on high alert to ensure the country’s security. He referred to the recent attack in North Waziristan that resulted in the martyrdom of 16 Frontier Corps personnel and several terrorists being eliminated.

In his address, Prime Minister Sharif also paid tribute to the late Benazir Bhutto on the 17th anniversary of her martyrdom, praising her courage, political foresight, and role in the formation of the Charter of Democracy. He remembered her as the first female Prime Minister of the Islamic world and acknowledged her exemplary sacrifices for democracy and Pakistan.

On the issue of the medicine shortage in Parachinar, the Prime Minister informed the cabinet that 1,000 kilograms of medicines had been sent to the area via helicopter, and patients were airlifted to Islamabad for treatment.

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Furthermore, Sharif conveyed his condolences to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev following a tragic plane crash that killed 38 people. He expressed confidence that Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations would strengthen in the coming months.

As for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, the Prime Minister assured the public that preparations for the event were well underway, promising a world-class cricket experience for the people of Pakistan.

Finally, PM Sharif announced that under the recently agreed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) with banks, approximately Rs 70 billion will be added to Pakistan’s national treasury in the next year, and around Rs 240 billion over the next three years, from the windfall profits earned by banks due to high interest rates. This agreement is expected to be approved by the cabinet before it is finalized by the President of Pakistan.