Fasihuddin Fetrat, the chief of staff of the Taliban army, denied the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan and claimed that this group controls certain areas inside Pakistan as a quasi-military force.
Mr. Fetrat, speaking on Wednesday, August 28th, on the Ministry of Defense’s reporting program at the government media center, reacted to statements by Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, regarding the presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan.
According to him, TTP organizes all its attacks inside Pakistani territory because it controls certain areas within Pakistan.
Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, recently made a strong statement regarding the Pakistani Taliban’s activities originating from Afghanistan’s soil. In a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, August 28, following deadly attacks in Balochistan that claimed over seventy lives, he expressed deep concern over the situation.
He emphasized that Pakistan’s security forces have taken proactive measures to address these threats, highlighting their readiness to combat terrorism effectively.
Mr. Sharif pointed out the strategic intent behind these attacks, particularly targeting development initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
In response to the escalating violence, including clashes with Baloch separatists and retaliatory operations by Pakistani security forces, Shahbaz Sharif reiterated his stance on the Pakistani Taliban’s activities in Afghanistan.
He asserted, “It is no longer hidden that the Pakistani Taliban organizes its attacks from Afghanistan’s soil.” This declaration underscores Pakistan’s efforts to address cross-border terrorism and its insistence on international cooperation to maintain regional peace and stability.
He condemned the actions of militant groups, stating, “They intend to disrupt the development of Balochistan and other parts of the country through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.”
However, Fetrat says there is no evidence of Pakistani Taliban (TTP) presence in Afghanistan.