Pakistani Taliban’s activities should be matter of concern for Afghan Taliban: Minister

By Anadolu Agency staff

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistani Taliban’s decision to break a cease-fire with the government and resume attacks in the country should be a matter of concern for the Afghan Taliban, the interior minister said on Thursday.

"TTP is enjoying all sorts of facilities in Afghanistan," Rana Sanaullah said, referring to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a conglomerate of several militant groups operating in Pakistan.

In a news conference in the capital Islamabad, Sanaullah reminded that the Afghan Taliban had promised the world that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism, and said that Pakistan has been extending every possible assistance for peace in Afghanistan.

He also condemned a suicide attack on a police vehicle guarding anti-polio vaccinators in a Quetta suburb, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, which killed four people and injured over two dozen people, mostly policemen.

A meeting on the country's security situation was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the recent spate of attacks in the country claimed by the TTP, was discussed, the minister said.

He described the TTP's acceptance of responsibility for attacks in the country as "sad, alarming, and dangerous."

"I assure the nation that this thing is not going to get out of control ... there is no such situation that cannot be handled," the minister said.

The country's armed forces are fully capable of dealing with the terrorist situation and are monitoring every situation, he said, adding that "if any military operation is required, it will be carried out without delay."