WASHINGTON The United States has refused to offer any "specific response" on Islamabad's decision begin a dialogue with the Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) noting that the two countries were in "alignment of interests" regarding Afghanistan.
US media reports said it was reported that Tuesday Pakistan as well as the TTP reached an agreement on an "complete cease-fire" in which both sides agreed to negotiate an end to decades of violence within the nation.
It was reported in the US media also reported that the acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for three days of travel which was the first trip trip to Pakistan from the Afghan Minister since Taliban took over Kabul on the 15th of August.
The matter was also discussed during a briefing in the afternoon in the US State Department where a journalist informed the spokesperson Ned Price that Washington still believed that the TTP as a terrorist organization and demanded an the official US reaction to the dialog.
"If we get any specific response to what we think is a specific response to Pakistani conversation with Pakistani Taliban, we'll, obviously be in touch," said Mr Price in his remarks, noting, "We have been in regular communication to the Pakistani leadership about the issue of Afghanistan in relation to our policy towards Afghanistan and the position we have heard from members of the international community."
It is believed that the US government, according to him has discussed the issue in the past with Pakistani government officials before, too.
"We have heard publicly and in private directly from the Pakistani friends that they also have a desire to see the achievements that have been made, especially among the minorities in Afghanistan as well as among girls and women, over the last 20 years don't be wasted," the US official said.
"And it's evident that there's an incredibly broad common interest in the area of Afghanistan and we're still having these conversations," said Mr Price and pointed out the fact that Tom West, the new special representative for Afghanistan will be visiting Islamabad shortly to "continue the discussions in the coming days."
The State Department announced earlier this week that Secretary West will be in Islamabad in the coming week to explain US expectations about the Taliban as well as any potential government that might emerge in Afghanistan.
It will be his first trip for him to Pakistan as the most powerful US official for Afghanistan. Mr. West was appointed to replace the Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who stepped out this week following an turbulent three-year period during which he also worked out an agreement for peace that was signed with Taliban.