Afghanistan-Based Militant Outfit TTP Continues Terror Attacks in Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

In the recent past, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the Afghan Taliban “to prevent terrorist organization the Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) from attacking Pakistan, which have resulted in many casualties.

When the Taliban fighters in August 2021 seized power, taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban-led government clarified that Afghan soil would not be used for any terrorist groups like TTP, Al Qaeda ISIS etc. for terror-attacks against neighboring countries, including Pakistan. But, based in Afghanistan, militants of the TTP, which entered Pakistan from Afghanistan, continued terror attacks in Pakistan. Hence, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has warned Kabul to check this infiltration. But playing double with Islamabad, Afghan government is fully cooperating with the TTP to target Pakistan.

In weekly press briefing on July 19, this year the spokesperson of the Foreign Office (FO) stated that Pakistan has conveyed to the Afghan authorities its serious concern on the terrorist attack at Bannu Cantonment on 15 July 2024 and the continuous use of Afghan territory by Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which carried out various deadly attacks in Pakistan with impunity.

Addressing the Ulema and Mashaikh Conference in Islamabad on August 8, this year, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir said: “Pakistan Army is fully committed to safeguarding national integrity…Pakistan’s longstanding support for Afghan refugees…the country has hosted millions of Afghans for over four decades…We urge them not to oppose their neighbour, a brotherly Islamic country, and a long-time friend, for the sake of Kharijite sedition”.

From time to time, Islamabad and country’s security agencies have shown solid evidence was also provided to Kabul regarding various terrorist assaults conducted by TTP from Afghanistan.

But, recent terrorist attacks by the TTP in various regions of Pakistan clearly prove that Taliban-led Afghan government is in collusion with this terror group to destablise Pakistan.

Taking note of the cooperation of the interim Afghan government with TTP, Pakistan Government on 22 June 2024, approved to launch military operation Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability) especially against the TTP. Pakistan’s armed forces continue this operation.

It is notable that social media video on July 20, 2024 showed scores of people holding the tricolor Afghan national flag and jumping the fence to get into the Pakistan’s consulate building in Frankfurt, with one of them taking down Pakistan’s flag. The protesters were reportedly shouting abuses and pelted the diplomatic facility with stones, causing outrage on social media.

In this respect, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on July 21, 2024 strongly condemned an attack “by a gang of extremists” and also criticised German authorities for their failure to protect the premises of its consular mission, saying: “In yesterday’s incident, the security of Pakistan’s consulate in Frankfurt was breached, endangering the lives of its consular staff.

Even, in 2019, Pakistan’s victory over Afghanistan at the Asia Cup in Sharjah was marred by clashes between the two sets of fans. Videos on social media have displayed Afghan fans failing to control their emotions after seeing their team lose the cricket match by one wicket and expressing their anger by hitting Pakistan fans as well as vandalising stadium property.

However, rejecting ground realities, based on facts, addressing a press conference in Kabul on August 28, 2024 Afghan Taliban army and chief of the Interagency Action Group (IAG) Qari Fasihuddin Fitr denied that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was using Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. He allegedly said that the TTP controls areas inside Pakistan and plans and executes its operations from there.

It is of particular attention that on August 3, 2023, Taliban supreme leader Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, issued a fatwa banning Afghans from participating in jihad outside Afghanistan and distancing themselves from haram acts of terrorism. This decree directly challenges the Afghan authorities’ denial of TTP presence, raising the question: if TTP is not in Afghanistan, and is not operating into Pakistan from Afghan territory, why the need for such a directive?

Recently, the IAG leadership has acknowledged relocating TTP militants within Afghanistan in Ghazni. This admission aligns with Islamabad’s consistent claims that TTP operatives have been using Afghan soil as a base for launching cross-border attacks into Pakistan. The relocation of these militants within Afghanistan not only underscores their established presence, but also highlights the complex security challenges that Pakistan has been facing due to this persistent threat.

And General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) of the Afghan Taliban and its specific cells 041, 051 and 063 have, not only, been involved in supplying weaponry and finances, but also aiding in providing cover to TTP and Al Qaeda’s 313 Brigade as well as East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

Intercepted communications available with Pakistan expose the Afghan Taliban’s direct support for terrorist groups, contradicting their denial of TTP presence. In August 2022, a GDI letter demanded protection for ETIM leader Mullah Abdur Rehman, and another communication revealed a payment of 0.52 million Afghan currency to TTP leader Khalid Khurasani after the Taliban took over in 2021. These facts clearly undermine the Taliban’s false claims.

As part of the double game, the repeated killing of multiple TTP commanders and fighters within Afghanistan further dismantles the IAG leadership’s statements that there is no proof of TTP presence in the country. Each strike against these terrorists serves as undeniable evidence, contradicting their denials and reinforcing the reality that TTP operatives have long been entrenched in Afghan territory.

Notably, how is it possible that several notable TTP commanders and fighters, whom the Taliban denied were ever in Afghanistan—were actually killed there? Examples include: Abdul Manan (Hakimullah)–killed by unknown men in Kunar province in June 2024-Atiqur Rehman (Tipu Gul)-killed during a shootout in Kunar province in October 2023. Omar Khalid Khorasani (Abdul Wali Mohmand)-A senior commander and head of JuA faction killed in a blast along with Mufti Hassan Swati and Hafiz Dawlat Khan Orakzai in Paktika province in August 2022. Khalid Balti (Muhammad Khorasani)-A senior TTP spokesperson, killed in Nangarhar province in January 2022. Azam Tariq (Raees Khan)-Senior TTP commander and spokesman, killed in Kunar province in September 2021. Sheikh Khalid Haqqani-High-ranking TTP leader, reportedly killed in a clash in Afghanistan in 2020. Qari Saifullah Mehsud-TTP commander and spokesman for the Hakimullah Mehsud group killed in Khost province in December 2019-Mullah Fazlullah former TTP chief killed in Kunar province in June 2018. Sajna Mehsud (Mullah Haji Mehsud)- Senior TTP leader, killed in a drone strike in Khost in 2018. Shahidullah Shahid-Ex-TTP spokesperson, later joined ISIS-K, killed in Nangarhar in 2015. Mufti Khalid Mehsud (Haji Gul Bahadur)-TTP commander, reportedly killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. Qari Yaseen (Ustad Aslam)-killed in a drone strike in Paktika in 2017.Shahryar Mehsud-Senior TTP commander, killed in an attack Afghanistan. Sheikh Maqbool Orakzai (Dr. Maqbool)- Member Orakzai faction, killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan. Adnan Rashid High-profile TTP member, reportedly killed in Afghanistan. Gul Muhammad-killed in Afghanistan during a military operation. Salahuddin Ayubi-killed in a clash with Afghan forces and Mullah Ilyas-killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan.

It should be noted that Islamabad’s special representative for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, pointed out in a statement on August 27, this year that terrorism under the auspices of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is related to the problem of Afghanistan, and urged the Taliban leaders of Afghanistan to clarify their relationship with the internationally designated terrorist group “Tehreek Taliban Pakistan”, which is wreaking blood across the border, while targeting Pakistan.

It is mentionable that on August 28, 2024, Pakistan informed the United Nations that the banned TTP is using Afghan soil for terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad urged the United Nations to play its role in preventing cross-border terrorist attacks.

On August 27, 2024, the United States also reiterated its concern about the growing threat of terrorism in Afghanistan. In this connection, Pentagon’s press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder indicated: “We know we cannot turn a blind eye to the threat posed by organizations like this, and we must continue to focus on counterterrorism”.

So, contrary to Fasihuddin Fitrat’s claim, Islamabad has repeatedly shared substantial evidence with the IAG on multiple occasions, detailing the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan and its involvement in cross-border terrorist activities—and bloody terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: [email protected]