Should Pakistan pursue TTP leadership in Afghanistan?

[zane_]

Some excerpts from a recent article by retired air-vice marshal Shehzad Chaudhry,

Consider: Mullah Fazlullah and his cohorts populate Kunar, while Omar Khorasani and his group have occupied Nuristan. Both provinces are in Afghanistan, and were vacated under General Petraeus’ enlightening strategy of abandoning 70 percent of rural Afghanistan to defend the 30 percent of urban cities in strength. That he was able to do neither is the abiding epitaph to America’s Afghan adventure.
​

Many more from North Waziristan have since joined the two groups across while the sham of a ceasefire and a dialogue enabled even more breathing space to the TTP. Call it strategic depth in reverse as Pakistan’s nemesis has gathered strength across the Durand Line. They also remain available to all who can manipulate them at will with the vile and the vicious against the state of Pakistan using their deadly expertise at terror. ​

What is greatly more worrying is the fact that the TTP’s ‘centre of gravity’– its nerve centre – is safely ensconced in Afghanistan, while what the military will engage in North Waziristan will only be the mid-level leadership and its foot-soldiers. The head of the monster will still need to be crushed even when the main body in North Waziristan has been neutralised.​

You lose this war, and you lose the state. The consequences are as stark. Once committed, which is now a reality, there is no turning back. This war will need to be fought to its very end, even if it will mean crossing the Durand Line.
​

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-256930-Enough

 

[KarachiKing]

The whole thing seems to have come a full circle in away now. Taliban leadership is under attack and is finding safe havens in Afghanistan now? Seems like the same tune from a different musical instrument.

If Pakistani army has the balls then it should definitely consider airstrikes in Afghanistan if there is enough intelligence to validate that. The only entity which can protest and have some leverage over us is the US but they used the same logic on us with drone attacks didnt thet? If the NATO or Afghan forces are not willing to take them out then we have the right to do so.

But there is a problem from a Pakistani geostrategic perspective. The line between Afghan Taliban and TTP is not as demarcated and clear as one is led to think. They find sanctuaries in each others' homes and Pakistan cannot go after and anger the Afghan Taliban for future geostrategic aims. With a likelihood that they will have some say (informal it maybe) in a future Afghan set up once the foreign forces leave, we need to keep ourselves in their good books. Or that is how the thinking of the military goes atleast.

If it is upto me I would make no distinction and distance ourselves from all Taliban and their related networks including the Haqqani.(and I wrote a senior thesis on this topic recently and interviewed some clued up people, so I am not entirely making this out of thin air and have some idea of the real situation)

Suppoting a TTP/Afghan Taliban leadership in Afghanistan is never good in the long term for us. Their ambitions dont end with just influence over one country. They want their version of shariah to be imposed everywhere they can and Pakistan is the only realistic place they can start with. So just having Afghanistan under their rule/influence will never satisfy them and sooner or later they will want some say in FATA, then Swat, rest of KP and beyond.

 

[hafeezrocks]

Wouldnt the best option be to seal the border if possible so that the militants that have left to Afghanistan remain there and cant re-enter Pakistan after the operation is over and army is called back ?

 

[KarachiKing]

Which is why Imran Khan's idea of peace talks had a lot of merit as it would help us exactly pinpoint that what is the end game of the different Taliban factions... But apart from the smaller, opportunist groups, peace talks were unlikely to ever succeed fully so an operation would have had to happen sooner or later. The govt tried to negotiate but I do not know how sincere they were. Reports were that the Mehsud faction was up for the talks and laying down arms which, if true, would have been great for us as it would have allowed us to isolate the TTP from the faction which provides its biggest number of fighters.

But operation was needed. Successful peace talks might have led to a more straightforward war against a depleted group both in morale and numbers but there had to be an operation imo

 

[KarachiKing]

Wouldnt the best option be to seal the border if possible so that the militants that have left to Afghanistan remain there and cant re-enter Pakistan after the operation is over and army is called back ?

Its not possible to seal the whole border.

If that was ever an option, the US would have done it ages ago when the Afghan taliban and al qaeda would escape into our tribal areas

 

[zane_]

Wouldnt the best option be to seal the border if possible so that the militants that have left to Afghanistan remain there and cant re-enter Pakistan after the operation is over and army is called back ?

Porous border. I don't think that's a very viable option. But if possible, that should be the way to go. One thinking of the Army is to deny these terrorists a safe haven inside Pakistan by restoring the writ of the state in FATA.

 

[Laparwah]

Definitely! Not following them means they escape to their hideout's across the border only to attack us later. Deal with the disease not the symptoms.

 

[KarachiKing]

Porous border. I don't think that's a very viable option. But if possible, that should be the way to go. One thinking of the Army is to deny these terrorists a safe haven inside Pakistan by restoring the writ of the state in FATA.

I dont think its practically possible. Its a mountainous area. You just cant put fences there. And added to that the Durand line is controversial too.

FATA is also semi-autonomous and it was under that condition that they even agreed to be part of Pakistan. One of the reasons they have been sort of hostile and been willing to pick up arms against the state is because of the state's policy of trying to bring it under its writ due to American pressure in the past

 

[zane_]

 

[zane_]

I dont think its practically possible. Its a mountainous area. You just cant put fences there. And added to that the Durand line is controversial too.

FATA is also semi-autonomous and it was under that condition that they even agreed to be part of Pakistan. One of the reasons they have been sort of hostile and been willing to pick up arms against the state is because of the state's policy of trying to bring it under its writ due to American pressure in the past

It's not about American pressure, it has to do with global pressure. North Waziristan is not only a safe haven for TTP but foreign militants as well. It is a launch pad of attacks against both Afghanistan and Pakistan. You can't have a part of your country being used for attacks against another country.

 

[Saeed]

Without any doubts but not at the cost of killing civilians.

 

[Down2Earth]

We should be working with Afghanistan and make them pro Pakistan, the last thing we need is for another volatile neighbour. Work with them so both countries can eliminate the Taliban and progress

 

[Markhor]

Interesting discussion. Pakistan definitely has a valid security argument in pursuing TTP across the border but it must be on the basis of clear and verifiable intelligence on the ground. Air raids should not take place in densely populated areas of civilians as if any Afghan non-combatants are killed then that's Afghan-Pakistan relations destroyed.

If Afghan govt can help in joint raids or conduct it themselves that's even better.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If the TTP are operating in Afghanistan, which is something many here were saying years ago, it will be very difficult to pursue them across the border, because they can only be there if they have tacit support from both the locals and possibly Afghan govt and Americans as well. Compare it to the situation in Iraq where ISIS was only able to sweep through Sunni areas as there was local support due to the sectarian bigotry of Maliki's Shia dominated govt. Afghanistan is a quagmire where it comes to tribal and sectarian allegiances though so getting a consensus would be the biggest problem.

 

[Saeed]

What are the chances of Afghan government working with Pakistan? According to few here, there are good and bad Taliban. But Pakistan support the good ones, which are against the Afghan government. So why would they cooperate with the government that supports terrorists in its backyard?

 

[Markhor]

What are the chances of Afghan government working with Pakistan? According to few here, there are good and bad Taliban. But Pakistan support the good ones, which are against the Afghan government. So why would they cooperate with the government that supports terrorists in its backyard?

It looks like an agreement has been made today between the two countries' militaries. - http://tribune.com.pk/story/731031/pak-afghan-security-neighbours-to-devise-better-border-control/

Its a positive step and its ultimately in both countries' long-term interests to remove the militancy threat. Yes there has been animosity in the past and failure to coordinate military strategy but both the Afghan and Pakistan government has lost BILLIONS fighting this war and countless lives so it would make sense to cooperate on this.

The two main military obstacles in this war are the terrain and border. The Pak military will have trained for fighting in the mountainous regions but obviously there's nothing they can do when militants are crossing to and from the border.

If Afghans are willing to crackdown on the border on their side, and take out the sanctuaries, maybe with support of local tribes, then TTP issue will be a thing of the past. Big if though.

 

[Markhor]

One more thing - It is uncertain whether Afghanistan could eliminate the TTP safe havens even if it wanted to. Nuristan has such forbidding alpine terrain that in 2010 the US concluded it was not worth the effort and withdrew its forces.

Afghanistan's hard-pressed military is focussing on protecting more populous areas of the south and east from Taliban advances.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Lot of misplaced bravado here


Could it be done ?

Yes since afghans don't have any real air deterrence and the Americans probably won't bother getting involved


But is it wise in the long term to humiliate a neighbor so we can feel better about ourselves ?

Best to get their support, if that can't happen and we do have a fox of MF then go for it, but try to take him alive, not a kill mission like OBL

 

[Gabbar Singh]

.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Some people talk of 'air strikes' as if it is some kind of computer game where only the bad guys die. Such an act would be no better than what the IDF is currently doing in Gaza. Yes there is an argument to be made for 'hot pursuits' into Afghanistan however do it with special forces or soldiers and not simply using F16s. Air strikes without 100% intelligence on the ground is simply collective punishment and in the long run will create numerous more anti-Pakistan jihadis and the cycle of violence will continue.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

There has been heavy clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban in Helmand. With hundreds of deads these days. Afghans says the Taliban don't even speak Pashto.

It's funny for past 10 years Afghan has been complaining that Pakistan is hiding Taliban leaders and giving safe place to stay in Pakistan. Now it's the other way around. Pakistan is getting it's own medicine. For years Pakistan trained and supported and used terrorist both against Afghanistan and India and still doing it. Now getting headache trying cleaning the mess they created.

Edit Edit not clean the mess, but control it. They don't want to end Taliban/terrorist as long as they can control them and fool them to attack India and Afghanistan.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said it would ask the incoming government in Afghanistan to act against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“Pakistan has been taking up the issue of use of Afghan soil by the TTP for terrorist activities inside Pakistan with the previous Afghan government and would continue raising the issue with the coming government in Kabul as well to ensure that the TTP is not provided any space in Afghanistan to operate against Pakistan,” outgoing Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said at the weekly press briefing.

Mr Chaudhri, who has been named as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Australia, has been replaced by Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.

In reply to a question about prisoners being released by Afghan Taliban, including TTP leaders like Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, he said: “We have seen some media reports in this regard. We have [opposed] and continue to oppose support for any individual or any proscribed groups that remained involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan.”

FO says Pakistan will continue to support peace process and development in Afghanistan

“We hope that once the new government is formed in Afghanistan, it will take strict measures to ensure that their soil is not used against other countries,” he said.

He said the border crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan were currently open, both for transit trade and travel.

He diplomatically responded to a straight question if Pakistan would recognise the Taliban by saying that Pakistan had always maintained that a political solution was indispensable for durable peace in Afghanistan. “We continue urging all Afghan sides to work out an inclusive political settlement,” he said.

He said Pakistan also believed in the necessity of consensus and engagement of the international community. “There is no change in our position. We have also positively noted that major violence has been averted thus far,” he remarked.

He also said the recent statements made by the Taliban’s spokesperson with regards to not letting Afghanistan become a terrorist haven against other countries was a positive indication.

When his attention was drawn to appeals by China and Russia for a lenient approach to Taliban, he said: “We continue to believe that an inclusive political settlement is the best way forward in Afghanistan. To this end, we remain engaged with all sides in Afghanistan and with the international community”.

He noted that as for the formation of new government, Pakistan believed that international consensus was very important in this regard. “We see an opportunity in the form of existing international convergence on the need for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan”, he added.

To a question about India’s role as a spoiler, the spokesman said Pakistan had always highlighted India’s role of a spoiler in Afghanistan. India wanted a security vacuum in Afghanistan so that the same could be used for sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, Mr Chaudhri said.

“We shared a detailed dossier with the world community last year, containing irrefutable evidence of India’s involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan and the use of Afghan soil for this purpose”, he recalled.

He was of the opinion that any country going against the international community’s convergence on peace and stability in Afghanistan at this moment and working for destabilising Afghanistan would stand isolated.

Answering a question about smooth fall of Kabul, he said the international community needed to look into the real reasons for meltdown of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and the failure of governance in Afghanistan.

He also referred to the statement by the spokesperson of the US Department of Defence emphasising the superiority of ANDSF in air power, weaponry, capability and numbers. “We believe that the utter failure despite the apparent advantages needs to be looked into rather than pointing fingers at others,” he remarked.

He said Pakistan had always played the role of a facilitator in the Afghan peace process and would continue doing so. “The decision of the future of Afghanistan, however, ultimately rests with the Afghans”, he stressed.

He said Pakistan has been consistently engaged with all Afghan sides. “Due to our engagement with all sides, we have been able to play the role of a ‘facilitator’ in the initiation of intra-Afghan negotiations. Even in the current situation, our ambassador in Afghanistan has been reaching out to the political leaders in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. You would also be aware of the visit by an Afghan delegation to Pakistan, comprising leaders from various ethnicity groups and political parties”, he said.

About Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s interactions with global leaders, he said “conversations with the world leaders are centered on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, the way forward, and the efforts for evacuation and temporary relocation. We see a common desire for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan”.

The spokesman said Pakistan remained committed to both peace and development in Afghanistan. “We have consistently supported the Afghan peace process and have extended necessary development assistance. We have committed over $1 billion for projects in health, education and infrastructure in Afghanistan. … Moving forward, we will continue to support the peace process and development in Afghanistan, as we have done in the past”, Mr Chaudhri remarked.

He said the foreign minister would be visiting neighbouring countries of Afghanistan for consultations soon.

He said Pakistan’s Ambassador in Kabul had met with the Taliban leaders, former president Hamid Karzai, Dr Abdullah and others.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2021

 

[MenInG]

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the back of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist organisations such as Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) would be broken if they did not receive any funds from India.

Talking to Turkish news channel TRT on Friday, he said that Pakistan wanted that the government in Afghanistan should be inclusive having representation of all groups.

“We believe that the people of Afghanistan have the right to make decisions inside Afghanistan but the regional countries can play their role in enabling stability in the war-torn country,” Fawad said.

The minister said Pakistan was in touch with all the regional countries including China, Turkey, the US and the United Kingdom.

Countries of the region could play their role for peace and stability in Afghanistan, he said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan had called leaders of all the world powers and was trying to come up with a strategy that decision making was not done in isolation, and that it should be collective and take the situation inside Afghanistan towards stability.

Pakistan tried to create a positive environment and persuaded the Taliban and the US to negotiate, the minister said.

He said Pakistan also tried that the Taliban and the Afghanistan government should also hold talks but unfortunately due to “negative attitude” of President Ashraf Ghani the “opportunity was wasted”.

To a question, he said Pakistan did not control the Taliban and it did not have decision making powers with the insurgents. However, he said that Pakistan was in touch with all groups in Afghanistan and the other day it hosted a delegation of Afghan Parliament here. “We are in touch with all Afghan factions and want installation of an all-inclusive dispensation in Kabul having representation of all the factions.”

Answering another query, the minister said the statement by the spokesman of the Afghan Taliban that the territory of Afghanistan would not be allowed to be used against any other country was “extremely welcome.”

He said that Pakistan’s basic condition was that the territory of Afghanistan should not be allowed to be used against any other country and Afghanistan would not be allowed to become a hub of international terrorist organisations at all costs.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2316534/back-of-terrorist-organisations-will-be-broken-fawad

 

[MenInG]

A commission set up by the Afghan Taliban has been working towards urging anti-Pakistan militants to stop violence against the neighbouring country and return to their homes across the border, the Voice of America (VOA) learnt through highly-placed sources.

Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada reportedly set up a three-member commission recently to investigate Islamabad’s complaints that the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was using Afghanistan to plot cross-border terrorist attacks, sources said.

Quoting sources in Islamabad, the VOA reported that the TTP leaders were being warned by the commission to settle their problems with Pakistan "and return to the country along with their families in exchange for a possible amnesty by the Pakistani government”.

Taliban officials from either Pakistan of Afghanistan's side have not publicly commented on the matter.

Read As Kabul turmoil mounts, Taliban's PR offensive falters

Sources have ruled out the possibility of Pakistan accepting any TTP demands, insisting the amnesty would be offered in line with the country’s constitution and law, which would require the militants to surrender their weapons.

The US and the United Nations have listed the TTP as a global terrorist organisation.

According to the February 2020 deal reached between the Taliban and the US in Doha, the militant group cannot permit regional or transnational terrorist groups to use Afghan soil to threaten global security.

"This concern is legitimate, and our policy is clear that we will not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against any neighboring country, including Pakistan. So, they should not have any concern,” Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told media agencies.

Shaheen added that neither the TTP nor any other terrorist groups “will have no place in our country and that’s a clear message to all.”

Analysts have claimed that it would be extremely difficult for the Taliban to disregard reservations of all the neighboring countries, including Pakistan, on the presence of terrorists which have targets across the Afghan border.

The Taliban need support from regional and international countries now that they are in control of Afghanistan.

“If they fail to deliver on their counterterrorism commitments, not only Pakistan but China, Russia, Iran, and Central Asian countries would all be upset because they also complain that fugitive militants sheltering on Afghan soil threaten their national interests,” sources from Pakistan have stressed.

“Can they survive if they turn their guns against us and support TTP? This is not possible. Our trade routes are a lifeline for them, for landlocked Afghanistan,” they added.

The TTP militants are responsible for killing tens of thousands of Pakistanis since their emergence in 2007 in retaliation to Islamabad’s decision to cooperate with Washington in the war against terrorism.

Despite assurances from the Taliban, there is widespread scepticism about whether the Afghan Taliban would want to upset groups like the TTP and the anti-China East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which sided with them in their insurgency against the US.

The Taliban regained power in Kabul last week after overrunning most of Afghanistan within the past two weeks in a largely unexpected development.

The militant group is currently consolidating its power by engaging former Afghan rivals in their bid to form an inclusive government and win international recognition for it.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2316713/taliban-commission-to-investigate-pakistans-ttp-concerns

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

Insha Allah TTP will be helped by Afghan Taliban. They have to start their own revolution and free KPK from unislamic laws. They should be inspired from Afghan Taliban. They can always hide in Afghanistan. Taliban will always help their own Taliban brothers. Pathan Pathan bhai bhai.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Insha Allah TTP will be helped by Afghan Taliban. They have to start their own revolution and free KPK from unislamic laws. They should be inspired from Afghan Taliban. They can always hide in Afghanistan. Taliban will always help their own Taliban brothers. Pathan Pathan bhai bhai.

KPK already has Islamic laws. Why would Taliban want to pick a fight with their own? As you say bhai bhai, although I think they refer to themselves as Pashtuns rather than Pathans. That sounds more like a Bollywood version.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan has handed over to the Afghan Taliban a list of “most wanted terrorists” affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from the war-torn neighbouring country as Islamabad seeks to take decisive action against the militant outfit.

Besides, Afghan Taliban chief Haibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly set up a three-member commission to investigate Islamabad’s complaints that the TTP was using Afghanistan to plot cross-border terrorist attacks.

The list was shared with the Afghan Taliban leadership recently after they took control of Kabul at a lightning speed that stunned the world.

As the Afghan Taliban prepare to form the government in Kabul, Islamabad has already initiated talks with the group, seeking action against TTP and its affiliates.

"We have taken up the issue with them [Afghan Taliban]. We have given them a list of wanted TTP terrorists operating from Afghanistan," a senior Pakistani official, familiar with the development, told The Express Tribune.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that Pakistan expected the new government led by the Afghan Taliban to take action against the TTP.

Although the official did not share the list, it is believed that Pakistan was seeking extradition or action against the TTP chief and its other top commanders.

Separately, a commission set up by the Afghan Taliban has been working towards urging anti-Pakistan militants to stop violence against the neighbouring country and return to their homes across the border, the Voice of America (VOA) learnt through highly-placed sources.

Quoting sources in Islamabad, the VOA reported that the TTP leaders were being warned by the commission to settle their problems with Pakistan "and return to the country along with their families in exchange for a possible amnesty by the Pakistani government”.

The sources have ruled out the possibility of Pakistan accepting any TTP demands, insisting the amnesty would be offered in line with the country’s Constitution and law, which would require the militants to surrender their weapons.

According to the February 2020 deal reached between the Afghan Taliban and the US in Doha, the group cannot permit regional or transnational terrorist groups to use Afghan soil to threaten global security.

"This concern is legitimate, and our policy is clear that we will not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against any neighbouring country, including Pakistan. So, they should not have any concern,” Afghan Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told media agencies.

Shaheen added that neither the TTP nor any other terrorist groups “will have no place in our country and that’s a clear message to all.”

Analysts have claimed that it would be extremely difficult for the Afghan Taliban to disregard the reservations of the neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, on the presence of terrorists which have targets across the Afghan border.

The TTP was driven out of the erstwhile tribal areas by Pakistan when it launched a full scale military offensive in 2014.

Most of the TTP terrorists found refuge across the border as Pakistan accused Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) of funding and backing the terrorist outfit.

Since the Afghan Taliban swept Kabul at a stunning pace, there are growing concerns that groups such as the banned TTP may be further emboldened by the development.

The TTP chief recently issued a statement congratulating the Afghan Taliban victory and renewed allegiance to its chief Akhundzada.

There were also reports that the Afghan Taliban released many TTP terrorists including its former deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Muhammad from jail.

However, the official was hopeful that the Afghan Taliban would not allow the soil of the neighbouring country to become a safe haven for the TTP and other terrorist groups.

Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had recently reminded the Afghan Taliban of the promise they made with the international community for not letting Afghan soil to be used by terrorists again.

At a weekly briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson had indicated that Pakistan would ask the Afghan Taliban to take action against TTP.

"We have a clear position on the TTP. It is a terrorist organisation that is proscribed by Pakistan as well as the United Nations," then FO spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri had said.

"We have been taking up the issue of use of Afghan soil by the TTP for terrorist activities in Pakistan with the previous Afghan government and we will continue to do so with the future one. We must ensure that it [TTP] is not provided any space in Afghanistan to operate against Pakistan," he added.

The spokesperson also said Pakistan had seen some media reports regarding the release of TTP terrorists.

"We have and continue to oppose support for any individual or any proscribed groups and outfits that remained involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan.”

Zahid added that Pakistan hoped that once the new government was formed in Afghanistan, it would take strict measures to ensure that its soil was not used against other countries.

Express tribune

 

[OMB]

Taliban have reassured won't allow TTP to use Afghan land against Pakistan: Sheikh Rashid

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said on Monday the Afghan Taliban had reassured the government that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) would not be given permission to operate in Afghanistan against Pakistan.

Responding to a question while addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister said some TTP members such as Maulvi Faqir Mohammad had been released by the Taliban after their takeover of Kabul on August 15, adding that the government was in "full contact" with the Taliban on the issue.

"The related authorities there have been told that those who have done terrorism in Pakistan [are controlled].

"The Afghan Taliban have reassured [us] that Afghanistan's land will not be allowed to be used in any case by the TTP," said Rashid.

He said Pakistan desired peace in Afghanistan since peace in one country was related to peace in the other.

The interior minister's comments come two days after the Foreign Office said Pakistan would ask the incoming government in Afghanistan to act against the TTP.

"Pakistan has been taking up the issue of the use of Afghan soil by the TTP for terrorist activities inside Pakistan with the previous Afghan government and would continue raising the issue with the incoming government in Kabul as well to ensure that the TTP is not provided any space in Afghanistan to operate against Pakistan,” the FO spokesman had said.

The FO was questioned on the release of TTP prisoners and responded that Pakistan would "continue to oppose support for any individual or any proscribed groups that remained involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan”.

According to a report prepared for the United Nations Security Council in July, the TTP has about 6,000 trained fighters on the Afghan side of the border.

The report had noted that “despite growing distrust, TTP and the Taliban carry on with relations mainly as before”, adding that the former supported the latter in operations against the Afghan government.

Afghan evacuations and CPEC
Regarding Pakistan's efforts to facilitate evacuations from Afghanistan, Rashid said more than 1,200 people including Americans had been evacuated and more than 4,000 visas had been issued in total.

Rashid added that 50 members of the Afghan cricket team had been issued visas as well and one-month visa-on-arrival facilities were being provided to diplomats and officials of international organisations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund

He said the interior ministry was also ramping up its capacity in case more visas need to be issued.

The interior minister clarified that Pakistan had no connection with the situation at Kabul's airport.

"People are expecting us to gather people from different areas and give them entry to Kabul airport but this is not our responsibility," Rashid said.

In regards to refugees, he said no decision had been made but people coming at the border were being facilitated.

Rashid further said that Pakistan had "no reservation" on requests by the European Union and other countries to park their planes in Pakistan for transport and other matters.

Regarding the fallout from the Afghan situation, he said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) importance had increased.

Terming CPEC the "jugular vein" of Pakistan's economy, he claimed there were "international conspiracies" underway against the project but the government was committed to taking it further.

He said 40 companies operating under CPEC were being provided protection by the army but recent events such as the Dasu attack and Quetta's Serena Hotel blast signalled that "people want to play with the lives of Chinese who are not only friends but well wishers of Pakistan."

Rashid said he had assured Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong of complete security to Chinese workers, adding that all of Pakistan's institutions were working on it.

Regarding investigations of incidents against Chinese personnel, he said some suspects had been arrested while others were being traced.

"We have reached the source of the Fisher Colony incident as well," he said, referring to Friday's suicide attack targeting a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals in Balochistan's Gwadar district.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1642195/taliban-have-reassured-wont-allow-ttp-to-use-afghan-land-against-pakistan-sheikh-rashid

 

[MenInG]

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said that the issue of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is one that the Pakistan government must resolve, not Afghanistan.

Mujahid's remarks came during an interview with Geo News on programme "Jirga", aired on Saturday night, and currently underway.

Show host Saleem Safi asked the spokesman if the Taliban will speak to the TTP to not engage in conflict with Pakistan. In response, Mujahid said: "The issue of the TTP is one that Pakistan will have to deal with, not Afghanistan. It is up to Pakistan, and Pakistani ulema and religious figures, not the Taliban, to decide on the legitimacy or illegitimacy of their war and to formulate a strategy in response."

'How soon can one expect a government in Afghanistan?'
When asked how soon people can expect the formation of a government in Afghanistan, the spokesman said that full-fledged efforts are currently underway in this regard, but that some minor obstacles are causing a delay.

"First of all, entering Kabul all of a sudden and taking over governance like this was unanticipated. We desire to hold wide-ranging talks regarding the formation of a government, so that a strong government can form," he said.

Mujahid also indicated the Taliban's desire for an "end to war", and the "creation of such a system, with everyone's input, that represents the wishes of the people".

"We have made considerable progress in this regard, but work is still underway," he said.

"Discussions are being held on all aspects of a government," the spokesman said, adding that he hopes that the Taliban will be ready "within a few days" to make an announcement in this regard.

Mujahid noted that the delay has caused hindrances in day-to-day operations and matters of trade and diplomacy, and so the Taliban have "engaged all their efforts in forming a government as soon as possible".

Regarding talks with former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and former chief executive officer, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, besides former vice presidents Yunus Qanuni and Abdul Rashid Dostum, the Taliban spokesman said that their advice is being taken.

He said that the Taliban wish for those to be part of the government who have the support of the people and enjoy popularity and will avoid the inclusion of people who were at the centre of conflict in the past.

"We are consulting all leaders present in Kabul. We are in touch with them, and their recommendations are important to us," he added.

Mujahid said that the Taliban also wish for "new faces" to be part of the government.

To a question on what each side has demanded of the other, the Taliban spokesman said that the group will move forward keeping in view the input given by the political leaders and will take measures in light of the same.

What does the future hold for Rashid Dostum?

When Safi asked what the future holds for Rashid Dostum if the view is for the inclusion of only acceptable figures, Mujahid said: "The people who were part of the government in the last 20 years have worked for Afghanistan to some extent but do not enjoy the overwhelming support of the people."

"We wish to begin a new chapter and include people who do not only enjoy popular support, but are deserving of being the people's representatives.

"But this does not in any way mean that all the past leaders will be sidelined. We will routinely consult them and seek their advice," he said.

GEO

 

[PakLFC]

Indeed we should kill the TTP terrorists in Afghanistan before they cross in to Pak to murder our people. IK is always reactive instead of proactive. We know where the terrorists are and their plans then what are we waiting for? Either send the military in Afghanistan who tell the Afghan Taliban to take care of them if they really are on our side.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/militant-fire-across-afghan-border-kills-two-pakistan-soldiers-says-army-2021-08-29/

Militant fire from across the border in Afghanistan killed two Pakistani soldiers on Sunday, the army said, in the first such attack since the Taliban took over Kabul ten days ago.

The army said it retaliated and killed two or three attackers, a claim not verifiable because the tribal districts along the Afghan border are off limits to journalists and human rights organisations.

The incident in Pakistan's Bajaur district is the first of its kind reported since the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15.

Bajaur is one of several lawless tribal regions along the Afghan border which have long sheltered militants, including an Islamist militant umbrella organisation called Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The TTP, which renewed an allegiance to the Afghan Taliban after the fall of Kabul, has recently stepped up its campaign against the Pakistani army.

The army did not say which group it thought was responsible for Sunday's attack, but has long held that TTP leaders and fighters are sheltering in Afghanistan after fleeing the tribal districts during military operations targeting militants.

"As per intelligence reports, due to fire of Pakistan army troops, 2-3 terrorists got killed and 3-4 terrorists got injured," the military said in a statement.

The statement condemned the "the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that existing and future set-up in Afghanistan will not allow such activities against Pakistan."

Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad has said that Islamabad expected the Afghan Taliban to ensure that the anti-Pakistan Taliban did not use Afghan soil as a launch pad for attacks inside Pakistan.

Islamabad accuses the TTP of having used Afghanistan as a base from where to carry a suicide attack in northern Pakistan in July that killed nine Chinese workers and four Pakistanis.

"We expected that the way things were unfolding in Afghanistan, the violence can spill over in Pakistan," Pakistan army spokesman Major General Babar Iftikhar told a news conference on Friday.

The Afghan Taliban's spokesman Zabihullah Muhaid said in his maiden news conference that the Islamist militants wouldn't allow any group to use Afghan soil against anyone.

 

[street cricketer]

Hmm..I thought with India having left Afghanistan and the Taliban taking over the country, Taliban wouldn't allow the TTP to operate freely inside its soil anymore.

 

[Giannis]

Hmm..I thought with India having left Afghanistan and the Taliban taking over the country, Taliban wouldn't allow the TTP to operate freely inside its soil anymore.

It's not that simple, the Kunar, Nuristan and Nangarhar districts are mainly under TTP/ISIS-K control. They won't disappear overnight or in even in a matter of a few weeks, right now the IEA has yet to form a government.

 

[OMB]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Condemn the TTP suicide attack on FC checkpost, Mastung road, Quetta. My condolences go to the families of the martyrs & prayers for the recovery of the injured. Salute our security forces & their sacrifices to keep us safe by thwarting foreign-backed terrorists' designs.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1434413267028348932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Major]

Insha Allah TTP will be helped by Afghan Taliban. They have to start their own revolution and free KPK from unislamic laws. They should be inspired from Afghan Taliban. They can always hide in Afghanistan. Taliban will always help their own Taliban brothers. Pathan Pathan bhai bhai.

thats really poor.

This means you support TTP killing children and Pakistani people.. What Pathan Pathan Bhai bhai you talk about when TTP ended up killing aps children and many citizens of Pakistan especailly in Peshawar.

This is like me saying I kill your family so that me and your family could have good relations in future

 

[MenInG]

The security forces killed a commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Safiullah, in an intelligence-based operation in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday.

According to the ISPR, the commander was involved in the killing of four women, who worked for an NGO, in February 2021. The TTP commander was also said to be behind the targeted killing of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO)'s engineers in November 2020.

In addition to these attacks, the TTP commander was also involved in IED attacks on security forces and extortion and kidnapping for ransom, the ISPR added.

It further said that a huge cache of weapons and ammunition was recovered during the operation.

On Friday, the security forces killed at least two terrorists during an IBO in Razmak, North Waziristan. “Security forces conducted an IBO in Razmak, North Waziristan on the reported presence of terrorists. Two terrorists were killed. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from terrorists,” a statement issued by the ISPR had said.

On Wednesday, at least seven soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom during an intense exchange of fire with gunmen in South Waziristan.