Islamabad ( The COW News Digital)Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has ruled out any possibility of negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), clarifying that recent talks in Qatar were held with the Afghan Taliban, not with the banned militant group.
Speaking on a private television program, Asif said the dialogue was part of ongoing regional engagement and aimed at ensuring peace along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. “The talks held in Qatar were with the Afghan Taliban, not with the TTP,” he stated firmly. “The TTP are the killers of innocent Pakistanis — there has been no communication with them, nor will there ever be.”
The minister further revealed that the Doha meeting was followed by discussions on a Pakistan-Afghanistan understanding framework, which will be reviewed and advanced in Istanbul from October 25 to 27. He added that the atmosphere during the meetings remained “positive and constructive,” crediting Qatari and Turkish officials for facilitating the dialogue process with transparency and mutual trust.
According to Khawaja Asif, a short four-paragraph agreement has been drafted, establishing a clear mechanism for implementation. The understanding reportedly focuses on preventing cross-border attacks, intelligence sharing, and ensuring that militant groups do not exploit Afghan soil for operations against Pakistan.
“If the agreement is violated, Pakistan will inform the brotherly nations involved in the process,” Asif emphasized, suggesting that Islamabad seeks to hold Kabul accountable for curbing TTP activities within its borders.
He reiterated that Pakistan has repeatedly shared evidence with Afghan authorities showing that TTP leadership operates from Afghan territory, orchestrating terrorist attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Addressing opposition leader Imran Khan’s earlier comments advocating talks with the TTP, Khawaja Asif dismissed the idea outright. “Imran Khan speaks of negotiations with those who have murdered our people,” he said. “There can be no justification for engaging with such killers.”
The defense minister’s statement comes amid renewed tensions along the Durand Line, where Pakistan has accused the TTP of regrouping and launching cross-border attacks despite assurances from the Afghan Taliban government.
Regional observers see the upcoming Istanbul round as a potential turning point in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to address militancy through coordinated regional dialogue — without legitimizing terrorist groups
