Islamabad, Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Asif Durrani, has disclosed evidence suggesting the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is being financed by India via Afghan intermediaries. Durrani estimates that between 5,000 and 6,000 TTP militants are currently harbored in Afghanistan, with the total number reaching up to 70,000 when including their families.
According to Kashmir Media Service, during a discussion on the Afghan peace process at an Islamabad-based think tank, Ambassador Durrani highlighted the challenges faced in peace negotiations with the TTP. He pointed out that the group’s refusal to surrender or align with Pakistan’s Constitution has been a major stumbling block, suggesting external financial support as a key factor enabling their resistance.
The consultation, part of a series organized by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) focusing on “Afghan peace and reconciliation: Pakistan’s interests and policy options,” also touched upon the reluctance of the TTP to be held accountable for their actions, including the tragic attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
Durrani conveyed Pakistan’s demands to the interim government in Kabul for the TTP to be disarmed and their leaders detained, stressing that the TTP remains a non-negotiable threat to Pakistan’s security. He also advocated for the implementation of a unified documentation regime at all Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossings to improve security measures.