KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Over 2,500 “Uzbek terrorists” are reportedly based in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, said on Tuesday, warning that their presence poses security challenges for the region.
In a post on X, Sadiq said he discussed the issue in a virtual meeting with his Uzbek counterpart, highlighting concerns about cross-border terrorism linked to groups hosted by the Taliban. He described the Uzbek fighters as possibly the second-largest foreign militant group in Afghanistan after the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, TTP).
United Nations reports also confirm the presence of foreign armed groups in Afghanistan. According to the UN Security Council, most foreign fighters in the country belong to the TTP. The Taliban, however, have repeatedly denied that terrorist groups operate in Afghanistan.
Sadiq’s comments follow Pakistan’s airstrikes on Saturday night in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost, which killed at least 13 civilians, including women and children, according to UN statements. The Pakistan military said it had targeted TTP and ISIS hideouts, claiming dozens of TTP militants were killed.
Pakistan accuses the Taliban of providing safe haven to TTP leaders and fighters responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Several regional countries, including Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, have urged the Taliban to prevent Afghan territory from being used to destabilize neighboring states.
The Taliban have consistently denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. In recent talks with UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said no militant groups are active in the country and that Afghan territory would not be used as a base for attacks against other nations.
