RASC News Agency: In her recent statement, the former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Maleeha Lodhi, highlighted the lack of progress in talks between Islamabad and the Taliban. Lodhi, in an article published in the Pakistani Dawn newspaper on Monday, January 15th, emphasized that despite promises from Taliban leaders to address the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issue, no concrete actions have materialized.
Pakistani diplomats expressed concerns about the ineffective warnings given to the Taliban regarding TTP shelters in Afghanistan over the past months. These warnings have yielded no significant results, leading to a sense of disappointment in Islamabad.
In response to this disappointment, Pakistani authorities have taken decisive measures, including the expulsion of tens of thousands of Afghanistani immigrants and changes in trade and transit regulations. These steps reflect Pakistan’s growing impatience with the Afghanistani Taliban and their failure to address the concerns raised by the Pakistani government.
Mrs. Lodhi, who has previously served as Pakistan’s representative in the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has expressed her belief that there will be a significant rise in casualties among security forces due to terrorist activities in 2023. This alarming prediction indicates the highest level of casualties witnessed in the past eight years.
It is worth mentioning that Pakistani officials have acknowledged an increase in terrorist attacks against their country’s army following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. This surge in attacks signifies a concerning trend compared to previous years.
In contrast, the Taliban group has consistently maintained that Afghanistan’s territory will not be utilized as a base for aggression against any other nation. However, the recent occurrence of suicide bombings in Pakistan suggests that Afghanistan continues to serve as a breeding ground for suicide bombers.
