ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the regional peace and stability relies on Taliban taking concrete action against "terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan", including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Afghan media reported.
In his remarks at the International Conference of Speakers in Islamabad, Sharif expressed Pakistan's willingness to cooperate with the Taliban if they take “decisive and verifiable steps” against groups threatening cross-border security, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported. "Our doors for dialogue and cooperation remain open, " he said.
Sharif stated that repeated militant attacks have stalled economic growth of Pakistan and stopped investment, particularly in border regions where violence continues to impact development. He stated that diplomatic efforts for peace and stability would continue "through every possible channel."
His remarks came after failure of three rounds of negotiations between Pakistan and Taliban, with both sides accusing each other of not agreeing on a mechanism to monitor and combat cross-border terrorism. Tensions between two nations have escalated in recent months with major clashes erupting between forces of Afghanistan and Pakistan in October.