Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “During the talks, in addition to significant progress on related issues, a temporary ceasefire was also agreed upon.”
1/2: جرت محادثات في كابل بين الحكومة الباكستانية وحركة طالبان باكستان بوساطة إمارة أفغانستان الإسلامية.
حققت المحادثات تقدماً كبيراً في القضايا ذات الصلة ، وقد تم أيضاً الاتفاق على وقف إطلاق النار المؤقت.— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) May 18, 2022
Read more: Is Pak delegation in Afghanistan to negotiate peace with TTP?
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strives in good faith to proceed with a successful negotiation process and for the two sides to show tolerance and flexibility,” Zabihullah said.
TTP has carried out some of the bloodiest attacks inside Pakistan since 2007. It is not directly affiliated with the Afghan Taliban but pledges allegiance to them.
Pakistan carried out a number of operations against the TTP, successfully controlling the militancy in the past few years. However, following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, the terror group resumed attacks against the Pakistani forces.
A TTP statement also confirmed that talks were underway in Kabul and that a ceasefire was put in place until May 30. But, it was not clear who was representing Pakistan’s government in the talks.
Islamabad has maintained that the TTP has a safe haven in Afghanistan, although both the Taliban and the previous U.S.-backed governments have denied it.
Read more: TTP to launch major offensive against Pakistan in Ramadan
Last year, the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire, but talks failed. According to local media, the discussions held inside Afghanistan broke down due to a disagreement over the release of TTP prisoners held by Pakistan.
Currently, Pakistan’s southwestern province of Baluchistan is also dealing with a surge of attacks by separatist insurgents; the province also borders Afghanistan.