Every incident of terrorism from the western border into Pakistan has laid bare the duplicity of Afghan Taliban and strengthened the argument that TTP’s operates under complete patronage of Kabul. Since the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, it has turned into a hub of terrorism. Both the UN experts and Pakistan’s envoy at UNSC have already warned that over 6,000 TTP militants are based in Afghanistan. Moreover, SIGAR in its latest report has categorically mentioned that terrorist groups ISIS, al-Qaeda, and TTP operate without facing any restrictions from Afghanistan. Among them, ISIS-Khorasan is identified as the gravest threat to minorities, UN staff, foreign citizens, and diplomats. Billions in foreign aid have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement.
Women and children face systematic denial of education, work, and basic rights while the humanitarian crisis has further worsened due to the complete halt of aid by Washington.
Both the UN experts and Pakistan’s envoy at UNSC have already warned that over 6,000 TTP militants are based in Afghanistan.
This situation poses a direct security risk to Pakistan and the broader regions. Pakistan has recurrently presented irrefutable evidence of use of Afghanistan soil for terrorrism but Kabul’s inaction and failure to dismantle terrorists sanctuaries proves its complete complicity in these destructive games.
The latest incident in Zhob has further strengthened the above argument. As per media reports, the Pakistan’s security forces successfully thwarted a cross-border infiltration attempt, eliminating 61 terrorists in Zhob, Pak Afgan border area. Hard evidence, including Afghan government biometric records, confirms that over 50 of the slain militants were Afghan nationals from known provinces, operating under the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction.
This incident conclusively exposes the use Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan, with terrorists fraudulently using refugee documents for mobility. The transfer of bodies by the Afghan Taliban themselves to a hospital in Paktika further reinforces their foreign origin.
While Pakistan’s decision to hand over the dead bodies reflects our humanitarian principles, Afghanistan’s continued inaction against these sanctuaries, despite undeniable proof, hints their tacit approval of terrorism and marks a blatant violation of international obligations. Pakistan must reiterate its demand for immediate and verifiable action to prevent such attacks and hold the Afghan interim government directly responsible for any future aggression originating from its territory.
The Afghan Taliban must understand that the business of exporting terrorism benefits none. The flames of terrorism knows no boundaries and might engulf Afghanistan itself, sooner or later. Kabul must understand this reality and play its part in eliminating the menace of terrorism.
The writer is a freelance columnist and contributes regularly on issues concerning national security.