The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is causing “a lot of bad blood” with Afghanistan, said Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Thursday urging the latter’s incumbent government to take “solid practical steps” against the proscribed militant organisation.

In conversation with TRT World on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Jilani said it was unfortunate that attacks within Pakistan continue to emanate from Afghanistan. The interim FM urged the neighbouring country to fulfil its commitments regarding terrorism.

“They committed to not allowing Afghan soil to be used against other countries,” he said, adding that TTP attacks in Pakistan stemming from Afghanistan “remain a major concern for us”.

Jilani asserted that Pakistan would like to see Afghanistan as a stable and prosperous country but “then the presence of a large number of terrorist groups whether it’s TTP or ISIS-K…and many other organisations which are based in Afghanistan,” cause a dilemma.

“They are a major concern not only for Pakistan but other regional countries as well.”

The FM added that the Pakistani government has held a dialogue with the interim Afghan Taliban government telling Kabul to “fulfil the commitments that they have made to Pakistan as well as the international community whereby they are committed to not allow Afghan soil [to be used] against other countries”.

Economy, inflation, fuel prices

With regards to the economy, Jilani said that economic prosperity is linked to everything, including the welfare of the people and a stable political environment.

Referring to the Special Investment Facilitation Council and various measures being taken by the government, he expressed hope that these efforts would lead to economic and political stability.

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“And the kind of reforms being introduced by Pakistan in different sectors is also something that offers a promising future for the people of Pakistan,” said Jilani.

Commenting on fuel price hikes creating an inflationary pressure, he opined that no government could do anything to resolve it.

“But at the same time, people do realise that the fuel price is also linked to international gas prices. Obviously, when world gas prices come down that benefit will obviously be passed on to the people.”

Russia-Ukraine war

To a question, Jillani stated that Pakistan’s position on the crisis was very clear. “We feel that war is not an option for anything. Issues need to be settled through a peaceful negotiation.”

“That’s something we have always advocated… with regard to this specific conflict which has been going on for almost two years. This is something that has created nervousness in almost every country. In terms of the economic crisis being faced by many countries… in terms of fuel shortages, food shortages, etc.”

Foreign investment

Expressing confidence in the SIFC and its “main purpose to attract investments“, Jilani boasted about the “tremendous and close cooperation” of the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain with Pakistan in political, economic and defence matters as well as people-to-people contact.

“It’s like facilitating the investors and this is the kind of initiative taken by the government and the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries that you mentioned have shown a lot of interest in Pakistan under the SIFC.”

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There are five major areas of investment, including agriculture, the IT sector and mine and minerals sector, which have garnered interest among the Gulf states, said Jilani.

“As a matter of fact, we have already received expressions of interest from GCC countries about investment in energy, mines, and minerals. We are sitting on the seventh largest reservoir of shale gas in Pakistan which is again something.”

FM Jilani termed the investment climate bright and said Pakistan was expecting visits from representatives of Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, this month.

“A number of MOUs are likely to be signed. From that point of view, the situation looks extremely good. It is certainly going to be a great partnership between Pakistan and GCC countries.”

The atmosphere looks conducive for all stakeholders, he said, referring to Pakistan’s efforts towards ensuring good governance and an end to smuggling and corruption within the country.

Interim government

When asked whether Pakistan was currently undergoing a “political crisis”, FM Jilani replied in the negative and said that the country has a democratic process under which an interim set up was installed after the parliament’s tenure ended.

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“Our main task is to hold free and fair elections and that is something that will take place when the Election Commission of Pakistan announces the date for polls,” he said.

UN reforms and India

Jilani observed that reforms have been on the United Nations’ agenda for a very long time.

“Our position remains constant, consistent, there should be a criteria-based approach according to which this membership should be enlarged and it should be through a democratic process,” he said.

However, he emphasized that the emergence of an elite member of the UNSC would not be tolerated as “India has violated most of the UNSC [UN Security Council] resolutions including the one on Kashmir, which is a long-standing issue on the UNSC agenda”.

Pakistan would like to see the implementation of UNSC resolutions calling for “a free and fair plebiscite”, he said, regretting that it has not taken place yet.

“And Kashmir as you are aware has been turned into a prison for the last several years. Massive human rights violations are taking place. That is something that we would expect the world community to take notice of.”