27 Haqqani, Taliban militants handed over to Afghanistan: Pakistan says

AVA- Islamabad promised on Tuesday it would continue to mount pressure on the rebel groups, allegedly involved in the recent wave of terror attacks in Afghanistan,

The Foreign Office spokesman said: “27 individuals suspected of belonging to TTA (Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan) and HN (Haq­qani network) were handed over to Afghanistan in November 2017.”

Dr Muhammad Faisal made the revelation in a tweet that provided no details about the individuals handed over to Kabul and under what arrangement.

However, it is believed the suspects were handed over to Afghan authorities ahead of US Defence Secretary James Mattis visit to Islamabad on Dec 4.

In another tweet, Dr Faisal said Pakistan was exerting pressure on the Taliban and the Haqqani network to prevent them from using its soil for any terrorist activity in Afghanistan.

Terrorist attacks in Pakistan had claimed the lives of 75,000 civilians and 6,000 soldiers, the FO spokesman added.