ISLAMABAD: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has explicitly refused todesignate Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist organisation,with its chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid asserting that the word“terrorist” does not exist in Pashto dictionary and is not part of Afghanterminology.
In a wide-ranging interview with an independent Afghan media outlet, MrMujahid reiterated Kabul’s long-standing position that the TTP issue is aninternal matter of Pakistan and that the Islamic Emirate never interferesin the domestic affairs of any country. “We do not call any group terroristbecause this term is not in our dictionary nor in our terminology,” he saidwhen pressed on Islamabad’s repeated demands to act against TTP sanctuariesinside Afghanistan.
The remarks have triggered sharp disappointment in Pakistani securitycircles, which have consistently maintained that the surge in terroristattacks across Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power inAugust 2021 is directly linked to TTP operatives enjoying safe havens inAfghan provinces bordering Pakistan.
Official data shared with parliament earlier this year revealed that morethan 1,200 Pakistani security personnel and civilians lost their lives interrorism-related incidents in 2024 alone, with the majority of majorattacks planned and directed from Afghan soil. Intelligence reports haverepeatedly identified TTP leadership, including its emir Noor Wali Mehsud,operating freely in eastern Afghanistan.
Islamabad has handed over multiple dossiers to Kabul containing evidence ofTTP training camps, fundraising networks and cross-border movement, yetAfghan authorities have either denied their presence or described thematter as Pakistan’s “internal problem”.
Analysts view Mr Mujahid’s latest statement as the clearest publicrejection yet of Pakistan’s core demand that the Islamic Emirate takedecisive action against the TTP under the Doha Agreement’s commitment notto allow Afghan soil to be used against any country. The refusal to evenacknowledge TTP as a terrorist entity, they argue, effectively removes anyprospect of meaningful counter-terrorism cooperation in the near future.
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have remained strained since 2021,marked by frequent border clashes, expulsion of undocumented Afghans, andsuspension of bilateral trade at key crossing points. Pakistan maintainsthat durable peace on its western border is impossible without dismantlingTTP infrastructure inside Afghanistan.
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Source:https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/interview-with-zabihullah-mujahid
Source: https://mofa.gov.pk/press-releases
Tags: Afghanistan, Taliban, TTP, Pakistan, Islamic Emirate
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