During a TV news debate, a leader of Imran Khan's PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) said the Taliban will join hands with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. A party leader, Neelam Irshad Sheikh said that the government has talked about asking the Taliban for help to reclaim the much-disputed state.
“The Taliban are saying that they are with us and they will help us in Kashmir,” Sheikh said during the show.
The Taliban had stated, that Kashmir is India's “internal and bilateral” issue. The news anchor tried to offset any consequences of the controversial remark, by reminding the politician that they were live on national television, but, Sheikh remained unfettered.
Pakistan is under the scanner after the Afghan government accused Pakistan and its intelligence of fostering the Taliban. Pakistan has never been forthcoming about its support of the Taliban. Ever since the state's special status was revoked in August 2019, Pakistan has been seeking international intervention in the matter, but, has not been able to garner much support with several western powers calling it a bilateral issue.
The militant group took control of Kabul on August 15. on August 23, footage and images emerged of militant outfits in Pakistan like the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba holding rallies in support of the Taliban and firing celebratory shots in the air.
On August 17, there were reports that fighters of the Islamic State, JeM and LeT entered Kabul. The US decided to withdraw troops from Afghanistan on the condition that the Taliban would not let Afghanistan become a haven for terror groups. The Taliban must ensure Kabul's security and prevent the country remains free of terror elements, as western powers will be keeping a close eye as to whether or not the group is keeping up their part of the deal.
