Afghanistan says 40 Pakistani Taliban were arrested out of a "desire for better ties."
A senior official from the Afghan Interior Ministry announced on Sunday that the Afghan government had apprehended approximately 40 militants associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, over the past year. This marks the first acknowledgment by an Afghan official of the authorities taking action against TTP fighters, who have been accused by Pakistan of orchestrating attacks along its western frontier.
The surge in militant violence and suicide bombings in Pakistan has been attributed by its officials to TTP and affiliated groups operating from Afghanistan. Last month, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated that Pakistan had asked Kabul to choose between Pakistan or the militant network earlier this year, following a deadly mosque bombing in Peshawar that claimed the lives of around 100 worshippers. The presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan has heightened tensions between the two nations, prompting Pakistan to announce the expulsion of unregistered foreigners, primarily Afghans, citing security concerns.
Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for the Afghan interior ministry, stated, "Today, there is no [militant] group operating in Afghanistan. There are a large number of Daesh captives with us, and around 35 to 40 TTP [fighters] are imprisoned by us." He emphasized Kabul's commitment to fostering positive relations with neighboring countries and ensuring that Afghan soil is not used as a launching pad for attacks against other nations.
Qani assured the media that any threat to Afghanistan's security would be met with prompt action, identifying and arresting the responsible individuals or groups. Pakistan has urged Kabul to hand over militants targeting its security personnel and people in cross-border attacks.
Against the backdrop of escalating tensions, Afghan authorities have extended an invitation to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a prominent Pakistani religious politician, to visit Kabul. However, the agenda of the visit has not been disclosed by either side.
