KABUL — Pakistan’s Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Thursday accused the Taliban of granting “state patronage” to militant groups responsible for launching deadly attacks inside Pakistan, in the latest sign of worsening ties between the Taliban and Islamabad.
During a press conference, Bugti told reporters in Islamabad that “terrorists were provided safe havens and places to run training camps in Afghanistan,” reiterating a long-standing Pakistani allegation that Afghan soil is being used to stage attacks.
He said recent operations in Balochistan had revealed that many of the militants killed hailed from Afghanistan.
Balochistan itself remains mired in violence, underdevelopment, and allegations of rights abuses. Human rights groups have criticized Pakistani authorities over enforced disappearances and clampdowns on dissent, while officials like Bugti maintain that militant violence cannot be justified by grievances.
The remarks come amid escalating violence in Balochistan, where the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has intensified its insurgency with new tactics targeting Pakistani security forces.
Bugti claimed that India’s intelligence agency was backing these groups, and urged the Taliban to honor the Doha Agreement commitment that Afghan territory would not be used against other countries.
Islamabad has repeatedly pressed Kabul to act against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups allegedly sheltering in Afghanistan. The Taliban, however, deny providing sanctuary, insisting that Afghanistan is not used to threaten neighboring states.
International reports have echoed Pakistan’s concerns. Successive United Nations Security Council monitoring reports have warned that the TTP, al-Qaeda, and regional militant outfits maintain a presence in Afghanistan, despite Taliban assurances to the contrary. The UN has noted that the Taliban’s reluctance or inability to act against such groups has contributed to mounting cross-border instability.
Bugti’s accusations add to a growing chorus from Pakistani officials in recent months.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s military leadership have both issued stark warnings that Islamabad will act against militants if the ruling regime fails to curb their activities. Earlier this year, Pakistan carried out cross-border strikes in Afghanistan, targeting what it described as TTP hideouts, a move that drew sharp condemnation from the Taliban.
