On Monday, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), emphasised on the need to address the complex issues between Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
However, Bhutto Zardari remarked that these problems "cannot be solved by simply visiting Afghanistan or having a cup of tea there”.
Bhutto's comment subtly referred to the visit of General Faiz Hameed, the former ISI chief, during Imran Khan's government in the early days of Kabul's fall, where he was seen drinking tea at the Serena Hotel. When asked by reporters at Kabul Serena hotel in Kabul about Afghanistan's future, Hameed had said, "Everything will be fine."
During a press conference on Monday, July 8, Bhutto Zardari stated that the problems between Afghanistan and Pakistan need to be resolved, and it must be acknowledged that not all issues are under Afghanistan's control.
Bhutto's recent comments about the Afghan Taliban seem to be in response to statements made by former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
On Friday, July 5, Imran Khan, in a message from prison, addressed the government and military of Pakistan, stating that Islamabad would not succeed in the war on terror without the support of the Afghan Taliban.
Imran Khan also criticised Bilawal Bhutto and Pakistan's current Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for not visiting Taliban-controlled Kabul.
In response to the growing instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan has launched the "Operation Resolve" to prevent escalating violence and terrorist attacks.
Previously, Pakistan's Defence Minister had stated that as part of "Operation Resolve”, Pakistan would target locations in Afghanistan in the future. According to him, Pakistani Taliban are organising their attacks from Afghan soil.
