Taliban Rejects Pakistani PM's Remarks About Presence Of Terrorist Groups In Afghanistan

Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban's deputy spokesman, rejected Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statements about regional threats stemming from the activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

"No foreign group is allowed to operate on Afghan soil," he said. Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told the UN General Assembly that "terrorist" groups such as al-Qaeda, ISIS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are currently present and active in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the region and the world.

Sharif called on the Taliban to fight terrorist groups, especially those responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan.
Islamabad blames the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for deadly attacks and increased insecurity in the country, accusing the Taliban of supporting and harbouring the TTP.

The Taliban has repeatedly rejected Pakistan's claim that the TTP is present and active in Afghanistan, claiming that Afghanistan is not a threat to anyone.

Hamdullah Fitrat also stressed that the Taliban will not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries.

However, numerous reports from international organisations confirm the presence and activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

Earlier, the United Nations Security Council warned in a report about the alignment between Al-Qaeda, the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban on Afghan soil.

The Pakistani Taliban, with the support of the Afghan Taliban, have expanded their attacks on Pakistani soil, and TTP camps, with the support and participation of al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, are focused on training local Afghan fighters and the Pakistani Taliban, the council said.

The UN Security Council report states that the Pakistani Taliban are using weapons left behind in Afghanistan to target Pakistan's border and military posts.