Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, has rejected the Taliban’s denial of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries in Afghanistan. He stated that the group not only enjoys haven across the border, but also has access to the latest weapons.
Speaking at a meeting on Monday, General Munir said that TTP safe havens in Afghanistan were “major reasons impacting the security of Pakistan.”
Earlier, the Pakistani Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, also accused the Taliban of not fulfilling its com
These remarks came a day after the Taliban’s main spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, rejected Pakistan’s allegations and said the TTP did not operate inside Afghanistan.
Mujahid further added that the Taliban had not any commitment to Pakistan in the Doha Agreement, signed between the US and the group.
According to a recent report in the Foreign Policy magazine, the Taliban has supplied weapons to the TTP to use in its attacks against the Pakistani army.
The Taliban and TTT share ideological, operational, and personal alignment. A recent report shows that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 has significantly strengthened and emboldened the TTP, as the group continues to target Pakistani security forces and civilians across the country.
According to the Express Tribune newspaper, there are between 8,000 to 12,000 TTP fighters in Afghanistan and the number could rise to 30,000 if their family members are included.
