Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said that incidents like Sunday’s terror attack in Bannu are ‘alarming’ but the security situation in the country is better than 2007. He was speaking at the Atlantic Council in Wahington on Wednesday.

Terrorists took over a counter-terrorism center in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Sunda. After attempts at an unconditional surrender failed, an operation was conducted to clear the building. At least three security officials were killed.

The foreign minister said that Afghanistan must act against terror groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He said that Pakistan wants to eliminate terrorism from the region.

He also said that Pakistan and US have achieved great things by working together.

Bilawal ‘disappointed’ but still wants Taliban engagement

Bilawal on Tuesday voiced disappointment over the Taliban’s ban on university education for women but said the best approach remained engagement with Afghanistan’s Islamist rulers.

“I’m disappointed by the decision that was taken today,” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on a visit to Washington.

But he said: “I still think the easiest path to our goal – despite having a lot of setbacks when it comes to women’s education and other things – is through Kabul and through the interim government.”

Bilawal said there were no alternatives to the Taliban, warning of further instability in Afghanistan or the rise of the Islamic State group.

“Is the alternative for us to imagine that we can somehow artificially stitch together an alternate opposition that can command the same sort of legitimacy?”

The Taliban, who had initially promised a softer approach than during their 1996-2001 regime, on Tuesday banned university education for women after already closing down secondary schooling for girls.

The United States, whose troop withdrawal from Afghanistan last year precipitated the collapse of the Western-backed government, warned that the Taliban decision could permanently end any hopes by the militants for a positive relationship.

But Bhutto Zardari said it was even more crucial to ensure economic support “to create the political space necessary for those within the Afghan regime who actually believe that they should deliver” on rights issues.

Pakistan has a complicated relationship with the Taliban, officially backing the two-decade US war in Afghanistan but facing wide accusations in Washington of supporting the militants.

Bilawal, Blinken discuss reconstruction of flood-hit areas

Bilawal and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday discussed the flood-caused destruction in Pakistan and the reconstruction of the affected areas.

During the conversation, Secretary Blinken and FM Bilawal “shared their mutual hope for a productive International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in January and discussed the need for close coordination,” according to the US State Department.

Secretary Blinken offered condolences for lives lost in recent terrorist attacks and underscored the United States resolute support for Pakistan against terrorism.

Meanwhile, Bilawal conveyed gratitude on behalf of the Government of Pakistan for USG’s flood assistance of $97 million.

He expressed the resolve that the two countries would continue to extend mutual cooperation for rebuilding resilient infrastructure in Pakistan.

Both the countries would also keep up cooperation to further enhance and diversify bilateral relations and to work together for regional peace and stability, he added.

“Spoke with Secretary Blinken conveyed gratitude of GoP for USG’s flood assist. of $97 m. Will continue coop [read cooperation] for rebuilding resilient infrastructure in Pakistan; to further enhance diversify bilateral relations; to work together for regional peace and stability,” Bilawal said in a tweet.

Secretary Blinken also took to Twitter about his discussion with Bilawal.

“Spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to express our continued support for the people of Pakistan as they recover from devastating floods. I hope for a productive climate conference next month and give my condolences for the lives lost in recent terrorist attacks,” he said.