Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan has accused the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of orchestrating attacks against Pakistan from within Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Addressing a cabinet meeting following recent militant attacks in Balochistan, Sharif said, “The planning of TTP armed attacks from Afghanistan is no longer a secret.”
While the Taliban has denied harboring TTP militants and claimed it does not support the group, Sharif made it clear that Pakistan would take decisive action. “There is no place for terrorism,” he said. “The time has come to end it. We will provide the military with whatever resources they need.”
According to Pakistani media reports, armed militants in Balochistan carried out separate attacks on Monday, stopping vehicles and executing at least 39 passengers. These incidents rank among the most severe anti-government militant attacks in Pakistan in recent years.
In response, Sharif condemned the violence, labeling the perpetrators as “terrorists” and vowed, “The fight against terrorism will continue until they are completely eradicated from the country.”
This is not the first time Sharif has pointed to TTP attacks originating from Afghan soil. He has previously urged the Taliban to take stronger action against terrorism within its borders.
A United Nations monitoring group has reported that the TTP has up to 6,500 fighters in Afghanistan.
