Pak Defence Minister Questions Taliban’s Denial of TTP Presence in Afghanistan
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, questioned the Taliban's claims that foreign terrorists are not present in Afghanistan.
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, questioned the Taliban's claims that foreign terrorists are not present in Afghanistan.
Addressing the Taliban in Afghanistan, Khawaja Asif said that Pakistani Taliban members have been killed on a daily basis in Afghanistan. “Then, how can one say that TTP members are not present there,” he asked.
Asif called the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as the "Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan" (TTA) while speaking to the media on Thursday in the Pakistani Parliament.
He said that Pakistan is ready to provide all documents regarding the activities of the Pakistani Taliban to the Taliban.
Earlier, Pakistani media quoted the country’s security officials and reported that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) use advanced American weapons and night vision cameras left over by the security forces of the previous government of Afghanistan, in their attacks on Pakistani targets.
Pakistani officials claimed that the TTP, which has spiritual and operational ties to the Afghan Taliban, has been able to arm itself with the same weapons used by the Taliban fighters.
In recent days, senior Pakistani officials have sharply criticised the Taliban in Afghanistan for providing safe haven to TTP members.
Pakistan's defence minister had previously accused the Afghan Taliban of not fulfilling their obligations in the Doha Agreement and allowing Afghan soil to be used against others.
In response to these statements, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, had said that instead of pointing their fingers at others, Pakistan should address their internal problems.
Mujahid had also rejected the statements of the Pakistani officials and said, "We do not allow TTP to live and operate in Afghanistan. We have faced the consequences of war and we don't want others to suffer like Afghanistan."
