ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has alleged that between 22,000 and 24,000 members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whom he described as “Pakistani terrorists,” have found safe havens in Afghanistan.
Speaking to foreign media representatives at the Chief Minister’s House, Mr. Gandapur also claimed that an additional 16,000 to 18,000 TTP fighters are operating inside Pakistan.
He acknowledged that Pakistan lacks the capacity to maintain law and order along its extensive border with Afghanistan.
The Taliban have previously denied harboring TTP members in Afghanistan, insisting they do not support the group. However, Mr. Gandapur argued that international legal constraints prevent Pakistan from pursuing TTP fighters across the Afghan border.
He called on Pakistan’s federal government to engage in negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, adding that initiating talks is beyond the jurisdiction of his provincial administration.
“I am obligated to express my concerns about the deteriorating law-and-order situation because the people of my province are being killed by terrorism,” Mr. Gandapur said.
While expressing frustration with federal authorities, Mr. Gandapur hinted that his provincial government might engage directly with the Afghan Taliban on issues specific to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Broader issues, he said, must be addressed through discussions between Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and Pakistan’s federal government.
“The federal government initially mocked my suggestion to engage with the Afghan Taliban,” Mr. Gandapur said. “But they now acknowledge the necessity of this approach because there is no viable alternative to achieving peace.”
He urged federal authorities to move beyond rhetoric and take practical steps to initiate dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.
Reflecting on the region’s history, Mr. Gandapur criticized Pakistan’s military operations in tribal areas, arguing that these actions disrupted previously stable regions.
“Before the military operations in the tribal areas, these regions enjoyed complete peace. It was only after the operations that the security situation deteriorated,” he said.
He also condemned the policy of distinguishing between so-called “good Taliban” and “bad Taliban,” claiming that this approach has inflicted significant damage on Pakistan without yielding any benefits.
In a pointed remark, Mr. Gandapur called on people in Punjab to recognize the sacrifices made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents and security forces. “The peace in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and other parts of Punjab is the result of the sacrifices of the people and security forces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
