Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan spokesperson Suhail Shaheen has said that Pakistan is welcome to help the Taliban arrive at a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan but it "cannot dictate to us or impose its views on us".

These remarks by the Afghan leader appeared on a private TV channel's show, on Sunday.

Shaheen, when questioned about how he views the Afghan Taliban's relations with Pakistan to be, especially in the context of reports that the Taliban are not willing to listen to Pakistan, the spokesperson said: "We want brotherly relations. They are neighbours, a muslim country, and we have shared values — historical, religious and cultural."

He further added that "They can help us in the peace process but cant dictate to us or impose their views. And this is against international principles.''

While referring to the Taliban's demand for an Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Shaheen said that having an emirate is "a legitimate right of the people of Afghanistan''.

"We say nothing about other governments. They should not impose their view," he said, reiterating: "This is not in accordance with international principles either."