Senior Taliban official rejects Pakistan claim of Kandahar militant meeting
A senior Taliban official, who spoke to Amu TV, rejected Pakistan’s claim that Kandahar governor Mullah Shireen hosted representatives of the Baloch Liberation Army, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent at a meeting aimed at coordinating attacks inside Pakistan, calling the allegation “propaganda.”
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, denied that such a meeting took place.
Pakistan’s military said Thursday that the meeting was held on Aug. 26 in Kandahar and was chaired by Shireen. Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said representatives of several militant groups discussed coordinating manpower and operations as they faced pressure from Pakistani security forces. He did not publicly present evidence for the allegation.
The Associated Press reported that an intelligence report reviewed by the agency also identified Shireen as the alleged host and said figures linked to the BLA, AQIS and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group were among those present. The report further alleged involvement by Afghan and Indian intelligence officials. Those claims have not been independently verified.
Chaudhry said ideological differences between the BLA and Islamist militant groups had not prevented cooperation.
“What is common between BLA and Fitna al Khawarij? Nothing,” he said, using Pakistan’s term for the TTP. He argued that money and Taliban support were what brought the groups together.
According to Chaudhry, the alleged Kandahar meeting included discussions about combining forces and providing manpower to the BLA. He said BLA representatives sought additional fighters from networks associated with Gul Bahadur.
The BLA is a separatist organization fighting Pakistani forces in Balochistan, while the TTP is an Islamist militant group seeking to overthrow the Pakistani state. Despite their different objectives, Pakistani authorities have increasingly alleged operational links between armed groups active in Balochistan and militants based along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Taliban authorities have repeatedly denied allowing Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has previously said no armed group is permitted to use Afghanistan as a base for attacks on neighboring countries.
The latest accusation comes amid sharply deteriorating relations between Islamabad and the Taliban.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban of sheltering the TTP and other militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban authorities reject those claims and have accused Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty through repeated airstrikes and cross-border operations.
Reports in recent months have also pointed to increasing coordination between the TTP and Baloch separatist groups in parts of Balochistan, though the extent and nature of any cooperation remain disputed.