Former special envoy of Pakistan for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, has revealed that the Taliban asked Pakistan for financial support in addressing the threat posed by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In an interview with Radio Mashaal, Durrani claimed that TTP leaders are based in Kabul, with some members collecting usher—an Islamic charity—in certain regions. He added that attacks in Pakistan have surged by 70 percent since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, with many of the incidents attributed to TTP, Daesh, and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
“TTP leaders live in Kabul, and members of this group even collect usher from people in parts of Afghanistan, including Khost province,” Durrani said. “It is undeniable that TTP organizes terrorist attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil, and Afghan citizens are involved in these attacks. Instead of providing evidence or taking action, the Afghan Taliban have asked Pakistan for money to control TTP.”
Durrani also expressed concern about the presence of what he described as “terrorist” groups in Afghanistan, warning that the region could again become a breeding ground for attacks like those of September 11.
In August 2024 alone, Pakistan experienced 59 attacks, most of them claimed by the TTP, according to reports. The rise in TTP activity has strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban.
Mohammad Radmanesh, a military analyst, explained that the Afghan Taliban has an ideological alignment with TTP, making it more challenging for Pakistan to demand action against the group. “Afghanistan under the Taliban has become a haven for terrorists,” Radmanesh said.
A United Nations report, citing a member state, estimated that between 5,600 and 6,000 TTP fighters are currently based in Afghanistan, often operating in collaboration with al-Qaeda. Pakistani officials have repeatedly called on the Taliban to take strict action against TTP, but Pakistan asserts that these demands have largely been ignored.
