According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement to relocate members of the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to western Afghanistan. The understanding has been reached, but practical measures for implementation are yet to be taken. The funding for the relocation will be provided by Pakistan, as reported by an anonymous senior security official. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the report.
The TTP has been a source of tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan due to its attacks on civilians and security forces in Pakistan. Pakistan remains doubtful of the ability of the Taliban’s interim administration to prevent terrorist attacks originating from Afghanistan.
Previous peace talks and ceasefires between Pakistan and the TTP have been short-lived, with accusations of violations from both sides. In April 2022, Pakistan conducted an airstrike on TTP targets in Afghanistan. The official emphasized the connection between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban, particularly their shared opposition to the United States.
The interim Taliban government aims to disarm TTP members and relocate them to western Afghanistan, but lacks the necessary funds and infrastructure. The Pakistani security official stated that Pakistan is capable of financing the relocation, including the required infrastructure.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, TTP attacks in Pakistan have surged. The Pakistani army reported 436 terrorist attacks in the first four months of 2023, resulting in significant loss of life. TTP has claimed responsibility for many attacks in the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased due to the removal of border fencing by the Taliban along certain points of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, leading to a rise in TTP terrorist attacks inside Pakistan in recent months.
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