Former Pakistani Envoy Urges Taliban to Act Against TTP Militants in Afghanistan

Asif Durrani, a former Pakistani envoy for Afghan affairs, has criticised the Taliban for allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to operate in Afghanistan.

Durrani claimed that the TTP is receiving local support in Khost province, with its leaders residing in Kabul.

In a pointed statement to the Taliban, Durrani asked, "Do you want us to harbour your opponents in Pakistan so they can organise attacks against Afghanistan from here?"

In an interview with Radio Mashaal, Durrani urged the Taliban to take action against the Pakistani Taliban and hand them over to Islamabad. He emphasised that the TTP remains a serious point of contention in relations between Pakistan and the Taliban, calling for decisive action against the group.

Durrani, who was recently removed from his position as Pakistan's representative for Afghan affairs, said that TTP members are living freely in Afghanistan, moving with their weapons, and even collecting financial support. "TTP members are openly collecting funds on Fridays in Khost and other areas," he noted.

The Afghan Taliban, however, have repeatedly stated that the TTP issue is a domestic problem for Pakistan and unrelated to them. Durrani countered this claim, saying, "The TTP is operating out of Afghanistan, planning attacks against Pakistan." He also revealed that Afghan nationals have been found among TTP fighters, with some of their bodies recovered from battlefields.

Addressing the Taliban's previous request for evidence of the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan, Durrani remarked, "They didn’t ask for proof. Instead, they suggested we pay them to relocate the TTP elsewhere."

Durrani also rejected allegations of Pakistan's involvement in the collapse of previous Afghan governments, pointing out that Afghanistan's main problem is internal disunity. "Since the fall of the monarchy, Afghanistan has lacked a stable system. The root cause of their troubles is a lack of unity," he stated, adding, "We cannot bring unity to Afghanistan."

He also referenced a 70% increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, expressing his scepticism about their return to power. This stands in contrast to the celebratory response from many Pakistani officials when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

On the subject of recent border clashes between the Taliban and Pakistani forces, Durrani highlighted the difficulty in distinguishing Afghan Taliban members from TTP militants. He explained that some Afghan Taliban fighters are present at the border without uniforms, making it hard to identify them. In response to this challenge, he said the Taliban had been asked to ensure their fighters wear distinct uniforms to avoid confusion with TTP militants.