The Heat: Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Taliban

The Heat

Afghanistan is criticizing neighboring Pakistan for allowing a Taliban delegation to visit Islamabad and condemns the insurgent group as terrorists. 
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is taking a hard stand against the Taliban, after April’s deadly suicide attack in Kabul. 

Nearly 70 people were killed and more than 300 injured when Taliban fighters blew up an explosives-rigged truck and opened fire inside a government building.

During a joint session of parliament, President Ghani demanded Pakistan evict Taliban insurgents through military action or hand them over to Kabul for trial.

Pakistani officials have engaged in efforts to broker peace talks with the Taliban. Since the last meeting in February, the group has refused to participate and has begun another spring offensive.

CCTV’s Danial Khan reports from Islamabad.

Our panel discussion includes: 

  • Omar Samad, a South-Central Asia Analyst and former Afghan Ambassador to France and Canada.
  • Hassan Abbas, senior adviser and Fellow at the U.S.-based Asia Society and the author of “The Taliban Revival.”
  • Michael Kugelman, senior associate for South and Southeast Asia at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, D.C.