Taliban Confirms Afghanistan International Report On Relocation Of Families Linked To TTP

According to the report, the returnees entered Afghanistan through the Torkham, Spin Boldak, Pul-e-Abrisham, and Islam Qala border crossings.

While Iran has slowed the pace of returning Afghan migrants, Pakistan has intensified deportations in recent months, expelling thousands of Afghans from its territory each day.

These actions have raised growing concern over the humanitarian and security situation facing returnees. The United Nations has warned that the mass deportations have deprived many refugees of access to essential protection and assistance.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said that while Iran and Pakistan have hosted Afghan refugees for many years, the current circumstances pose serious risks to their safety and livelihoods.

Mujahid stated that there is no longer any need for regional countries to mediate between the Taliban and Pakistan.

Speaking at an online press conference on Saturday, he said that from now on, the Taliban would directly share developments with regional states, adding that “Iran, Russia, and the Central Asian countries understand the situation.”

Referring to Pakistan’s recent threats, Mujahid said the Taliban, “in coordination with the people, are ready to defend every inch of Afghanistan’s soil.”

He said that during the Istanbul talks, Pakistan attempted to place responsibility for its internal security on the Taliban, which ultimately led to the collapse of the negotiations.

Mujahid, who also serves as spokesperson for Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, said Pakistan was trying to portray the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issue as something that emerged after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, whereas it actually dates back at least two decades.

He recalled TTP attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas and major cities over the past 20 years and said Pakistani military operations against the group had displaced thousands of civilians.

Mujahid said the TTP was formed as a result of Pakistan’s military campaigns and its decision to allow US drone strikes in the tribal regions, insisting that “this issue has no connection to the Afghan Taliban.”

He explained that, in response to Pakistan’s concerns, families linked to migrants from the tribal areas including members of the TTP have been relocated from the Durand Line border regions to central Afghanistan to allow for closer monitoring.

The Taliban spokesperson said that carrying weapons or engaging in “jihad in Pakistan” without the permission of the Taliban’s supreme leader has been “completely banned.” He added that tribal migrants entered Afghanistan long before the Taliban returned to power.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the Taliban’s refusal to sign a written agreement had caused the deadlock in negotiations, adding that there was now no need for further mediation or dialogue.

Hashemi said that in this period, more than 3.05 million tons of goods were exported from Iran to Afghanistan, of which over 1.03 million tons passed through South Khorasan and the Mahiroud border crossing.

He added that the total value of exports to Afghanistan reached $1.15 billion, with goods worth more than $350 million exported via Mahiroud.

Hashemi noted that some goods imported from Afghanistan are items Iran needs but does not produce domestically, calling this a sign of “balance and deepening trade relations” between the two countries.

According to the Tehran Times, trade between Iran and Afghanistan increased by nearly 84 percent in 2024 compared with the previous year, reaching $3.19 billion.

By the end of July, the total value of goods transited through the Dogharoon customs terminal to Afghanistan had reached $1.6 billion, according to official figures.

Speaking at an online press conference, Mujahid claimed that these groups are “creating pretexts to push relations toward tension” and are trying to blame Afghanistan’s Taliban for Pakistan’s internal problems, instability, and attacks carried out by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

He described the TTP issue as an “old problem” unrelated to the Taliban in Kabul. Mujahid said the TTP emerged in 2002 following US drone strikes and bombings in Pakistan’s tribal areas, which he alleged were conducted with Islamabad’s consent.

According to Mujahid, the Taliban delegation in Istanbul presented evidence of multiple Pakistani military operations against the TTP that “displaced hundreds of thousands of people from the tribal regions, some of whom later came to Afghanistan.”

Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the talks had reached a “complete deadlock” and that no further rounds were currently planned.

Asif added that the Taliban delegation had sought verbal assurances during the talks but refused to formalise any agreements. He emphasised that all international negotiations must be concluded through written agreements.

Before the press conference, Mujahid had already confirmed the failure of the Istanbul talks. In a post on X earlier on Saturday, he wrote that the negotiations “produced no results.” He reiterated that the Taliban “will not allow anyone to use Afghan territory against another country.”

Mujahid also accused Pakistan of attempting to place “all security responsibilities on the Taliban while showing no willingness to assume responsibility for Afghanistan’s security or even its own.”

The third round of Taliban–Pakistan talks began on Thursday, November 6, in Istanbul. The first round, held in Doha, resulted in an immediate ceasefire, while the second round, also held in Istanbul, ended without progress.

He urged Pakistan to learn from the experiences of the United States and Russia in Afghanistan.

In remarks directed at Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Noori said: “Do you believe that the old and the young will line up behind you?”

Noori argued that, unlike the United States and Russia, Pakistan does not enjoy geographical distance from Afghanistan, saying “the two sides are connected in Punjab and Sindh.”

His comments suggest that the Taliban consider the areas stretching from Peshawar to Attock as historically part of Afghan territory.

He warned Pakistan not to be “arrogant” about its military strength or “test the patience” of what he described as Afghanistan’s “brave nation.”

The remarks come as Taliban and Pakistani delegations hold a new round of negotiations in Istanbul, mediated by Türkiye and Qatar.

Asif had earlier warned that if the Istanbul talks fail, Islamabad may enter direct confrontation with the Taliban.

Noorullah Noori was among several senior Taliban figures arrested in Pakistan after the collapse of the group’s first regime and later transferred to the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.