The Pakistani military has once again accused the Taliban of providing sanctuary to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Afghanistan, enabling them to conduct anti-security activities against the Pakistani government.
Sharif Ahmed Chaudhry, a spokesperson for the Pakistani army, stated at a press conference today, “TTP terrorists are operating in Pakistan using Afghan territory.”
Despite the Taliban’s repeated assurances that they do not allow any terrorist groups to operate against any country, especially neighboring ones, the Pakistani military official emphasized, “There is evidence of terrorism by Pakistani Taliban who are harbored in Afghanistan.”
Chaudhry mentioned that “traces of recent terrorist incidents” can be linked to “terrorists in Afghanistan,” and remarked, “It appears that the agreement the Taliban signed in Doha has not been implemented yet.”
He assured that his country would continue to “suppress terrorists and their facilitators” as much as possible.
A senior Pakistani government official claimed that Habibullah, a terrorist residing in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, played a role in an attack in North Waziristan.
The army spokesperson also claimed that investigations into a March 20 attack on the Gwadar Port Authority indicated that the attacks were planned in Afghanistan, and the terrorists and their facilitators were based there. He noted that one of the suicide bombers was an Afghan citizen.
The Pakistani military added that militants are trying to disrupt peace in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In response to a March 16 attack on a post in North Waziristan, “the Pakistani army targeted terrorist hideouts across the border in Afghanistan,” he said.
Chaudhry further stated, “The latest wave of terrorism in Pakistan is a result of the TTP being supplied with facilities and weapons from Afghanistan.”
Regarding the decision to repatriate undocumented foreigners in Pakistan, Chaudhry called it beneficial for the country, noting, “Millions of Afghan citizens continue to live in Pakistan.”
He concluded, “There is no place for terrorists in Pakistan.”
He claimed, “The involvement of Afghan citizens in terrorism in Pakistan deviates from the Taliban’s Doha agreement with the U.S.”