Pakistan PM says Islamabad has evidence of Taliban links to TTP

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that Islamabad has “complete evidence” of close ties between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“There is a close relationship between the TTP and the TTA. You say there is no link, but we have complete evidence,” Sharif told a meeting of religious scholars. “All kinds of facilities are being provided to them through our enemies.”

Sharif said Pakistan had made enormous sacrifices in fighting militancy and insisted it would again defeat what he described as a renewed extremist threat.

“The world should acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices. We eliminated terrorism in 2018, and by the grace of God, we will crush it again and uproot it completely from our borders,” he said.

The Taliban have repeatedly rejected Pakistan’s accusations, saying they do not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against other countries. However, a United Nations monitoring report has said the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has about 6,000 fighters based in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said militancy originating from Afghanistan’s territory remains the key unresolved issue between Islamabad and the Taliban authorities, adding that improved relations depend on addressing the security concerns.

“Our demand that Afghan soil not be used for terrorist attacks inside Pakistan is legitimate, realistic and consistent with international law,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Islamabad and Taliban representatives have held talks on the TTP issue in Doha, Istanbul and Riyadh, but those discussions have failed to produce a lasting outcome beyond temporary ceasefire arrangements.

Pakistan says attacks carried out by the TTP have surged since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The Taliban deny responsibility, accusing Pakistan of shifting blame for its own security failures.