Taliban on Pakistan: ‘Serious consequences’: threatening to attack ‘terror havens’ within Afghanistan

On June 28th, the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan issued a warning to Pakistan in response to statements made by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Asif had mentioned that Pakistan could target sanctuaries of the outlawed terrorist group TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) in Afghanistan as part of a newly launched military operation against terrorism. 

The Afghanistan Defence Force responded by cautioning that any incursion into Afghan territory, regardless of the pretext or justification, would result in serious consequences, and those responsible would be held accountable. 

In response to Pakistan’s Defence Minister’s statement regarding potential violations of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, the Afghan government issued a statement criticising the remarks as unwise and aimed at causing confusion, which serves no constructive purpose. The statement urged Pakistan’s leadership to refrain from making such sensitive statements on critical issues. 

Meanwhile, the Afghan government also announced the launch of ‘Operation Azm-i-Istehkam’ last week. This operation aims to address the increasing threat of terrorism, particularly in light of what Afghanistan perceives as inadequate efforts by the Afghan Taliban to prevent TTP militants from using Afghan territory against Pakistan. 

In an interview with Voice of America, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif discussed the rationale behind launching the counter-terrorism operation, ‘Azm-e-Istehkam,’ emphasising that the decision was not made hastily and was driven partly by economic challenges. He indicated that the operation could potentially target sanctuaries of the TTP across the border.  

Asif justified the operation by alleging that Afghanistan has been exporting terrorism to Pakistan and that those responsible for these activities are sheltered in Afghanistan. He argued that targeting such elements would not violate international law under these circumstances. 

Regarding the TTP, Asif stated that despite the group operating from Afghanistan, a significant number of its cadre, estimated to be a few thousand, operate within Pakistan’s borders. He ruled out the possibility of dialogue with the banned outfit, citing irreconcilable differences. These statements reflect Pakistan’s stance on addressing cross-border terrorism and its perceived security challenges emanating from Afghanistan. 

The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was established in 2007 as an umbrella organisation comprising various militant groups. Its primary objective is to enforce its strict interpretation of Islam throughout Pakistan. The group is believed to have close ties with al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban. 

The TTP has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks across Pakistan. These include the 2009 attack on the army headquarters, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. These actions have underscored the TTP’s role in destabilising Pakistan and perpetrating violence against both military and civilian targets.