Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq Khan, has claimed that 500 Afghan nationals joined the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the past year, raising concerns over the group’s continued threat to Pakistan’s internal security.
Speaking at a seminar titled “A Holistic Appraisal of the Security and Governance Challenges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Sadiq said that not only insurgents but also former Afghan military commanders had taken part in attacks inside Pakistan.
“Only last year, 500 Afghans joined the TTP and fought inside Pakistan,” he said, describing the development as “extremely concerning.”
His remarks, reported by World Echo News, come amid a sharp increase in militant attacks in Pakistan’s border regions, which Islamabad has repeatedly blamed on TTP fighters allegedly operating from Afghan territory. The issue, he said, has become a “major flashpoint” in relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Sadiq urged both governments to prioritize the issue and engage in dialogue to address the TTP’s presence and operations. “This must be dealt with on a priority basis,” he said, adding that Pakistan would use all its resources to combat the group, which he described as the country’s “biggest challenge.”
Turning to the issue of refugees, Sadiq criticized media coverage of Pakistan’s recent deportation campaign, which has drawn condemnation from rights groups and international organizations. He noted that Iran had repatriated 1.5 million Afghan refugees last year with little international scrutiny.
The ambassador also alleged that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, was exploiting the instability in Afghanistan. “RAW is not only present in Afghanistan but actively supporting and financing terrorists,” he claimed, urging Islamabad to take steps to reduce India’s influence in the country.
Neither the Taliban nor Indian officials have responded publicly to the allegations.
