Is Kabul Sheltering TTP to Undermine Pakistan’s Security?

APP 

Peshawar: The latest cross-border attacks on Pakistani military check-posts have once again underscored the growing nexus between the Afghan Taliban and the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—a development experts warned could gravely undermine regional peace and security.

Security analysts and former officials said Saturday night’s unprovoked assaults by Afghan-based militants reaffirm Pakistan’s long-standing position that the interim Taliban regime in Kabul continues to provide safe havens and logistical support to anti-Pakistan terror outfits, including TTP, ISKP/Daesh, and other extremist factions, allegedly at the behest of foreign sponsors.

Brigadier (R) Mehmood Shah, former Secretary for Law and Order in the erstwhile FATA, described the attacks as alarming evidence of Afghanistan’s repeated violations of the Doha Peace Agreement and the UN Charter.

He claimed that terror camps on Afghan soil are actively training TTP militants—allegedly supported by India’s RAW—to conduct cross-border operations against Pakistan.

“The interim Taliban government continues to sponsor terrorist networks operating against Pakistan. This is a dangerous, shortsighted game that threatens the security of the entire region,” Brigadier Shah warned.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/pakistan-forces-repel-afghan-attacks-capture-19-border-posts/

He said the Pakistan Armed Forces had no choice but to respond decisively. In retaliation, over 200 Taliban militants and Fitnaul Khwaraj fighters were neutralized, while 21 hostile positions were captured along the border, reflecting the military’s tactical strength and operational precision.

According to Brigadier Shah, the operations specifically targeted Taliban-run terrorist camps and logistical hubs supporting banned outfits such as Fitna al-Khwarij (FAK), Fitna al-Hindustan (FAH), TTP, and ISKP/Daesh, while taking all measures to avoid collateral damage.

He said the precision strikes caused extensive infrastructural losses and disrupted the operational networks of these groups inside Afghanistan.

“All efforts were made to prevent civilian casualties. Pakistan remains resolute in neutralizing threats emanating from Afghan territory, fully in line with its right to self-defense,” he added.

Brigadier Shah expressed concern over the growing Taliban-India engagement, particularly the recent visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi, terming it a “dangerous diplomatic alignment.”

“This provocation comes at a time when India—the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region—is cozying up with the Taliban in a bid to destabilize Pakistan,” he said, adding that India has resorted to using Afghan-based militants after facing a crushing defeat during Operation Iron Wall.

He vowed that the sacrifices of 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred in the recent clashes would not go in vain.

“Their sacrifices will be written in golden words. The nation stands firmly behind its valiant armed forces,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Dr Adnan Sarwar, former Chairman of the Department of International Relations at the University of Peshawar, condemned the Taliban foreign minister’s recent remarks on Kashmir during his India visit, calling them “irresponsible and irrational.”

He said the joint India–Afghanistan communiqué on Kashmir was a calculated attempt by New Delhi to create rifts between Pakistan and Afghanistan amid rising regional tensions.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/10-takeaways-from-dg-isprs-press-conference/

“The Kashmir dispute is governed by UN resolutions, and no foreign government has the right to override the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination,” Dr Sarwar emphasized. “Afghanistan’s failure to dismantle terror networks is eroding regional peace, while India is exploiting these tensions for its own geopolitical ambitions.”

He also referenced Pakistan’s success in Operation Iron Wall, during which the Pakistan Air Force shot down seven Indian aircraft, including Rafale jets, on May 10—a strategic setback India has yet to recover from, he added.

Dr Zahid Anwar, Professor of Political Science at the University of Peshawar, highlighted that the $7.2 billion worth of U.S. military equipment left behind after the 2021 withdrawal had fallen into the hands of militant groups.

“This vast arsenal has significantly enhanced the capabilities of terrorist organizations, including TTP and ISKP. The Taliban government must act swiftly to eliminate these threats rather than engaging in provocative diplomacy with India,” he warned.

Dr Anwar reminded the Taliban regime of Pakistan’s decades-long support to the Afghan people, noting that Pakistan hosted over four million refugees since 1979, provided humanitarian assistance, and offered economic concessions.

“Such goodwill is now being undermined by the interim Afghan government’s irresponsible actions,” he said.

The experts collectively urged the international community, including the United Nations and the signatories of the Doha Accord, to ensure that Afghanistan fulfills its commitments and ceases to harbor terrorist elements. They also cautioned India against exploiting Afghan instability for geopolitical leverage.

“Pakistan prefers peace and constructive diplomacy over hostility,” Brigadier Mehmood Shah concluded. “But we will not allow Afghan soil to be used for terrorism against our people. The defense of our sovereignty and the security of our citizens remain our foremost priority.”