Pakistan Urges Taliban to Designate TTP as Terrorist Group in China Talks

Pakistan has urged the Taliban to officially recognize the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist group, dismantle its infrastructure and provide verifiable evidence during ongoing negotiations in Urumqi, China.

The talks, initiated by the Taliban with Chinese officials facilitating separate meetings with each side, focus on a Pakistani "roadmap" for a border ceasefire and securing cross-border trade. Broader political relations are not on the agenda.

The negotiations come amid escalating border tensions, recent military clashes and halted diplomacy. Pakistan conducted operations on February 26 against what it called "terror groups in Afghanistan," prompting the Taliban to offer a verifiable mechanism to address cross-border terrorism concerns. Border clashes have since resumed, with the Taliban carrying out operations in response to Pakistani airstrikes.

Taliban officials have not commented on the demands. A Taliban spokesman previously stated that countries label opposing groups as terrorists from their own perspective, avoiding a direct designation for the TTP.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the country is in "open armed confrontation" with the Taliban administration.