Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of providing financial and logistical support to militant groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The country has called on the Taliban to take decisive action against them.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the issue of cross-border terrorism remains central in ongoing diplomatic discussions with the Taliban administration in Kabul.
Khan stated that groups such as the TTP and BLA, both designated as terrorist organisations by Pakistan, are operating from Afghan territory and receiving external support. He said they have credible evidence that these groups receive support from within Afghanistan and that Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue with Afghan authorities.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also alleged that India has played a role in backing Baloch militants, asserting that there is documented evidence of Indian support for the group’s activities.
According to Khan, Pakistan expects the Taliban to take effective measures to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
His comments echo concerns raised by United Nations experts, who have previously reported that the TTP, with an estimated 6,000 fighters, benefits from significant operational and logistical backing from the Taliban in Afghanistan. The UN also cited internal divisions within the Taliban leadership, with some figures pushing for a reduction in support for the TTP to improve relations with neighbouring countries.
UN assessments have warned that Afghanistan remains a safe haven for various transnational terrorist groups. The UN Security Council’s monitoring team reported that the presence of ISIS–Khorasan (ISIS-K) poses the most serious regional and international threat, while al-Qaeda continues to offer ideological and weapons training to other militant organisations in the region.
The Taliban has rejected the UN’s findings, with a deputy spokesperson calling the reports “propaganda” and denying the presence of ISIS or other terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, the UN has said that some member states have reported close cooperation between the BLA, including its Majeed Brigade, and the TTP in parts of southern Afghanistan. One state cited intelligence indicating that the two groups operate at least four shared training camps, including in Kandahar’s Shah Wali Kot and Shorabak districts, with al-Qaeda providing support and training.
