ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has established military training centres in Afghanistan’s Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika provinces, according to Pakistani security sources, who said the Taliban regime is allowing the group to maintain training facilities and operate from Afghan territory.
The sources further confirmed that some Afghan Taliban terrorists had joined the TTP and were present at its training centres, pointing to what they described as an overlap between elements of the Taliban regime and the Pakistani Taliban’s infrastructure.
The facts come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban authorities over cross-border terrorism and Islamabad’s repeated demands that Kabul prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan.
According to the Pakistani sources, Taliban forces have defended TTP members and their hideouts whenever the group’s facilities were targeted, rather than dismantling the terrorist infrastructure.
The sources also said terrorist activity in Afghanistan extends beyond the TTP, citing the presence of al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Islamic State elements in parts of the country.
United Nations assessments have separately documented the continued presence of several terrorist organisations in Afghanistan.
Afghan nationals among TTP ranks
Pakistani security sources further confirmed that more than 70 per cent of TTP terrorists entering Pakistan from Afghanistan are Afghan nationals.
They also stated that TTP terrorists had access to weapons and equipment left behind following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces, including M4 rifles, Remington sniper rifles and night-vision equipment.
Similar facts concerning terrorist access to former US- and NATO-supplied equipment have been reported by Pakistani officials.
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The sources said Pakistan had identified 260 Afghan nationals killed while carrying out attacks as terrorist activities in the country.
They said the figure was based on records including names, addresses and family details and did not include unidentified individuals or active terrorists.
Pakistani sources further stated that terrorist activity originating from Afghan territory had killed 1,327 Pakistanis and wounded 2,484 others during 2026.
Pakistan steps up strikes
Pakistan has stepped up cross-border military action against terrorist targets in Afghanistan in recent days, following a surge in deadly terrorist attacks inside the country originating from Afghan soil.
On September 21, Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces, targeting terrorist hideouts and safe havens, and said more than 28 terrorists had been killed.
On September 24, more than 100 terrorists and facilitators were killed in Pakistan’s precision air and drone strikes against 10 terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan.
