Afghan Taliban collecting funds for TTP in Afghanistan, suggests reports

DND News Report

The arrest of an Afghan national in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has reignited concerns over alleged links between the Afghan Taliban and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with officials warning that cross-border support for militant activities persists despite repeated assurances from Kabul.

According to security officials, the suspect, identified as Habibullah, was apprehended during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kuchlak. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to involvement in terrorist attacks targeting Pakistani security forces, resulting in casualties. Authorities further claimed that he admitted affiliations with both the Afghan Taliban and the TTP.

At a joint press conference on April 5, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Langau, accompanied by Home Secretary Hamza Shafqaat and DIG Counter Terrorism Department Aitzaz Goraya, presented what they described as evidence of Afghan soil being used to facilitate terrorism in Pakistan. Officials disclosed that the suspect’s brother is also linked to TTP networks, and that the group operated under a commander identified as “Muslim.”

Langau stated that Pakistan has repeatedly shared evidence with Afghan authorities and urged them to prevent terrorist groups from using their territory for cross-border attacks. He added that Islamabad has also engaged friendly countries, including Gulf states and China, to press the Afghan Taliban to act against such elements, though with limited success.

Despite repeated assurances from Taliban leadership that Afghan soil will not be used against other countries, international organizations and analysts have challenged these claims, warning that ongoing militant activity poses a serious threat to regional stability.

Recent international reporting has further amplified these concerns. A report by the American journal Foreign Policy, citing a United Nations assessment, highlighted the growing presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. It estimated that around 6,000 TTP fighters are currently based in Afghanistan, alongside members of affiliated groups, bringing the total number of militants to between 30,000 and 35,000.

The report also pointed to ideological and operational overlaps between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP, alleging continued logistical and financial support to terrorist leaders, including Noor Wali Mehsud. Analysts warned that Afghanistan risks becoming a battleground for competing terrorist factions, potentially mirroring conflict scenarios seen in Syria.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan media has also echoed these concerns. The Sri Lanka Guardian reported that Afghanistan under Taliban rule has become a safe haven for multiple international terrorist organizations, including the TTP, also referred to as Fitna al-Khawarij. Citing international observers and UN findings, the publication noted the continued presence of groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Afghanistan.

The report underscored deep-rooted ideological ties between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP, warning that these links have strengthened since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. It added that the Taliban regime faces growing international isolation due to allegations of supporting militant groups, human rights violations, and exclusionary governance.

A Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding support for Afghan refugees as a gesture of goodwill. “Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees with sincerity, providing shelter, education, and employment opportunities,” the official said, adding that public frustration particularly in Balochistan is mounting over continued violence and alleged inaction by Afghan authorities.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in a fact-check statement, rejected claims made by Taliban spokespersons and reiterated that Pakistani actions inside Afghanistan have been limited to “precise targeting” of militant infrastructure. The ministry also accused the Afghan Taliban of providing safe havens to militant leadership and criticized what it termed as “propaganda” denying these allegations.

Officials indicated that the latest developments may further narrow the scope for diplomatic engagement, warning that Pakistan could reassess its restraint if cross-border militant activities continue.

The situation highlights growing regional unease over Afghanistan’s security landscape, with increasing concerns that the country could once again emerge as a hub for transnational militant networks.