ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that while Pakistan respects the Afghan people, “certain elements” within the Taliban are “actively supporting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and using it as a proxy against Pakistan”.
The ministry confirmed that Pakistan conducted “intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan,” targeting militants affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), both blamed for numerous terrorist attacks in Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials.
The statement highlighted a recent attack on 16 March 2024, at a security post in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, that killed seven Pakistani soldiers.
Over the past two years, Pakistan has expressed its concerns to the Taliban about the presence of terrorist groups, including the TTP, in Afghanistan, which pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s security. The ministry emphasized that these terrorists have consistently used Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has urged Afghan authorities to take concrete actions against the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan, to deny safe havens to the TTP, and to extradite its leadership to Pakistan.
The ministry reiterated Pakistan’s respect for the Afghan people but criticized “certain elements” in the Afghan government for supporting the TTP against Pakistan. Pakistan has faced accusations of harboring militant groups, including the Taliban, but has denied such claims.
The Taliban has rejected allegations of supporting the TTP or other groups, arguing that Pakistan blames them for its own security failures.
