KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s Chief of Army Staff, has denied allegations that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is operating from Afghan soil.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday, August 28, Fitrat asserted that “no one can prove” the presence of TTP bases in Afghanistan.
These accusations from Pakistan are not new. Islamabad has repeatedly claimed that the Taliban is harboring TTP militants.
The TTP, which shares ideological and operational ties with the Afghan Taliban, has been responsible for a wave of deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan argues that the TTP militants cross the border, launch attacks, and then retreat back into Afghanistan, using the rugged terrain as cover.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan has seen a dramatic rise in attacks, particularly in the border regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan increased by 65% in 2023. The TTP is considered the primary force behind this surge in violence.
Despite these claims, Fitrat rejected Pakistan’s accusations. He challenged Islamabad to present evidence proving that the TTP operates from Afghan territory.
Fitrat also pointed out that the TTP has a significant presence within Pakistan itself. He claimed that the group controls areas in Pakistan and conducts its operations from there, rather than from Afghanistan. He emphasized that TTP has “no base, presence, or financial and logistical support” within Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s army chief also criticized Pakistan for repeatedly blaming the Afghan Taliban for its internal security failures. He accused Islamabad of deflecting responsibility and using the Taliban as a scapegoat for its “weaknesses and shortcomings.”
The strained relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan has been further exacerbated by these allegations. Border skirmishes between the two countries have occasionally flared up, adding to the tension.
Meanwhile, a June report from the UN Security Council’s monitoring team provided additional context to the situation. The report suggested that the Taliban, with assistance from Al-Qaeda, is providing shelter, training, and support to TTP militants. The UN estimates that up to 6,500 TTP fighters, commanders, and leaders are currently being harbored under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has issued stern warnings to the Taliban, urging them to take decisive action against the TTP. Islamabad has made it clear that it expects the Taliban to rein in the group or face potential consequences, further complicating the already tense relationship between the two neighboring countries.
