ISLAMABAD: Security analyst Michael Kugelman acknowledges that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group continues to enjoy sanctuary in Afghanistan, citing its longstanding ties with the Afghan Taliban and the Taliban regime’s consistent reluctance to act against allied terrorist groups.
Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre, in his remarks, noted that despite repeated Pakistan and Taliban regime engagements, including Chinese mediation, no meaningful progress has been achieved, underscoring that the banned TTP terrorist group threat remains a persistent regional security challenge with no immediate resolution in sight.
Pakistan witnessed a surge in terror activities, particularly in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, since 2021, when the Afghan Taliban came into power.
Despite several rounds of talks, both countries have been unable to reach an agreement, largely due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to take action against terrorist outfits based on Afghanistan’s territory.
Pakistan demands Taliban to take concrete action against terrorists
Pakistani officials have repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to take action against groups using Afghan territory to plan and execute attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, at his weekly media briefing, made it clear that there would be no political breakthrough with Kabul unless the Afghan Taliban took concrete action against terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.
“The ice has not broken,” Andrabi said. “The ice will not break until Afghanistan renounces its support for terrorism against Pakistan.”
He demanded that the Afghan Taliban provide “verifiable written assurances” that Afghan territory would not be used to plan, sponsor or execute terrorist attacks against Pakistan, adding that only concrete actions—not promises—could pave the way for improved relations.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said the Afghan Taliban regime has become an Indian proxy and is not ready to withdraw support for terrorist groups carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.
“Kabul is not giving us any guarantee to stop terrorism,” Asif said, adding that Afghan authorities only made verbal commitments and were not prepared to provide written assurances.
Afghan Taliban supporting terrorism inside Pakistan
A former deputy chief of the Afghan National Army has also confirmed that the Afghan Taliban regime, backed by India, is supporting terrorist groups carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Sayed Sami Sadat, who served as Deputy Chief of the Afghan Army in 2021 under the former Afghan government, made the remarks in a video comment circulating on social media and regional media platforms.
“It is absolutely true that any group carrying out attacks against Pakistan is being supported by the Afghan Taliban. They are providing these groups with assistance and backing,” Sadat said.
“It is also true that the Afghan Taliban maintain close relations with India and receive financial support from it. These funds are then provided to groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to facilitate attacks inside Pakistan,” he added.
Terrorists enjoying sanctuary in Kabul
Last month, a photograph showcasing the top tier of the banned Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group lounging at the luxury hotel in Kabul had provided undeniable, concrete proof of Pakistan’s longstanding stance that anti-Pakistan terrorist groups are not only operating from Afghan soil but are enjoying premium, high-level sanctuary under the current Afghan Taliban regime.
The photograph, which captured the senior leadership of the terrorist group that operates in close coordination with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group, depicted senior Gul Bahadur Group commander and head Abu Sufyan Karavan, Sadr Hayat, Alias Abu Sufyan, alongside key figures Commander Jalali, Commander Rehbar Waziristani, and Commander Ghazi.
However, Kabul has consistently denied providing sanctuary to these terrorist elements, but this new photographic evidence completely dismantles those denials, laying bare the open luxury and official impunity granted to designated terrorists responsible for major attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians.
Al-Qaeda has links with Taliban and present in Afghanistan: UN
A senior United Nations counterterrorism official has said Al-Qaeda continues to maintain a presence in Afghanistan and retains links with the Taliban.
The UN official’s remarks have raised fresh concerns about the country’s role as a base for terrorist groups despite commitments made under the 2020 Doha Agreement.
Acting United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Alexandre Zouev, in remarks reported by Russia’s TASS news agency, said Al-Qaeda remains active in Afghanistan.
The UN official also identified Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) among the most active terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory.
He warned that the continued activities of these groups pose a threat to regional and international security.
The remarks add to a series of United Nations assessments that have questioned the Taliban’s ability or willingness to sever ties with militant organisations and prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorism.
However, international monitoring bodies and several governments have continued to express concern over the activities of Al-Qaeda, ISKP and TTP in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
