Khawaja Asif - Latest News Update, Information, Photos & Videos on Khawaja Asif at Lokmat Times

Islamabad, Aug 12 The Pakistan government is preparing a "contingency plan" to deal with the potential resurgence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror group after reports suggesting the banned outfit was trying to make a comeback, sources said.Although the government has been holding talks with the TTP for months to broker some kind of a deal, prospects of such an agreement are grim, the sources told The Express Tribune.On Wednesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed his apprehensions about the success of the talks, while Pakistan's special envoy on Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq had admitted the peace process was at a "nascent stage".With reports of some Taliban fighters being seen in the Swat valley, the authorities concerned are preparing a "contingency plan" to deal with the militant threat in case talks with the TTP collapsed.Authorities have not closed the window of talks with the TTP, they are at the same time ready to deal with any eventuality, The Express Tribune reported.Sources said the primary reason Pakistan entered into talks with the TTP was that the Afghan Taliban were reluctant to take any military action against the outfit.Instead, the interim Afghan Taliban government was keen on Pakistan and the TTP to resolve their differences through talks.Pakistan began negotiating with the TTP not out of choice but out of compulsion, according to the sources.During one of the in-camera briefings given to MPs, the military leadership had said talks were in an initial phase and any deal with the TTP would be strictly in accordance with the Constitution and law.It is believed that Pakistan is trying to exhaust all available options before resorting to any other steps to deal with the threat of the TTP.The Afghan Taliban government is in a fix as it is reluctant to take any action against the TTP but at the same understands the importance of Pakistan, Express Tribune reported.With the recent killing of Al Qaeda chief Aymen-Al-Zawahiri in Kabul, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has now come under increased pressure to cut ties to terrorist groups.Zawahiri's killing has diminished chances of the Taliban getting recognition in the foreseeable future.If the issue of the TTP remains unaddressed, the Taliban may antagonise Pakistan, which has been their main advocate seeking legitimacy for the current government in Kabul, The Express Tribune said.Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Khawaja AsifFOLLOW

Khawaja asif, Latest News

Amid the growing presence of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the country, Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif has expressed concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the northwest part of the country. ...

As more purported audio clips featuring leaders of the Pakistan ruling coalition surfaced on Sunday, opposition PTI questioned the security of the Prime Minister's Office but the government said there was "nothing illegal" in the audio leaks, local m ...

London, Sep 18 Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the Defence Ministry and the General Headquarters ... ...

Islamabad, Sep 17 Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that besides gas, Russia has also offered ... ...

Islamabad, Sep 17 Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned former premier Imran Khan to stop the pursuit ... ...

Islamabad, Aug 17 Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged on Wednesday that a "negative" social media campaign targeting ... ...

Pakistan Taliban, whose presence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province's Swat valley set alarm bells ringing in Islamabad, have started leaving the region after talks with the government. ...

Islamabad, Aug 12 The Pakistan government is preparing a "contingency plan" to deal with the potential resurgence of ... ...