US State Department’s Special Representative and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan Thomas West says Pa
kistan has been dealing with increasing attacks led by banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pa
kistan (TTP), calling it a major concern.
Speaking during an interview, West sai
d that Pa
kistan is an important partner of the United States and the two countries will continue to work together. West thanked Pa
kistan for hosting Afghan refugees for 40 years on his country’s behalf. He also thanked the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for facilitating the refugees.
West sai
d that he had a two-and-a-half day stay in Pa
kistan two
weeks ago, during which he discussed mutual interests in Afghanistan with the Islamabad authorities. “It was a pleasure to speak with security and civilian officials in Islamabad,” he added. Sharing the details of his meetings in Pa
kistan, West sai
d that the chall
enges faced by the country in dealing with the banned outfit were discussed. He sai
d that the same concerns were discussed in a meeting with Minister of the State on Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, but sai
d that it is not a new challenge.
West sai
d that Pa
kistan has been dealing with the chall
enges linked with the banned TTP. “The [increase in] attacks led by banned TTP is a challenge that Pa
kistan has been dealing with,” he said.
While speaking about the US ties with the Afghan Taliban, t
he special representative said: “I don’t believe that there will be any practical partnership between the US and Taliban.”
West pointed out that the Taliban’s harbouring of Ayman al-Zawahiri (former Al Qaeda chief) was a clear violation of the Doha agreement. Moreover, he sai
d that his country doesn’t need a third party to facilitate the US-Taliban links as he and other US officials are in direct contact with the group.
“I believe that there should be a direct dialogue,” he said. West sai
d that the American officials and the Taliban representatives met for the first time in a personal capacity in Doha. He sai
d that matters related to terrorism, the Taliban’s efforts to fight against Daesh, and concerns regarding Al Qaeda were discussed in detail with the group’s representatives. “The US expressed concerns regarding the human rights in Afghanistan in talks with the Taliban,” said West. He adde
d that the World Bank has made an effort to provide $1.5 billion for the Afghan people.
