The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed to know the “real whereabouts” of the most wanted terrorist, accusing the Shehbaz Sharif administration of lying about Masood Azhar, the leader of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist group, being present in Afghanistan.
Following the Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif’s remark that Afghanistan was a “safe haven for terrorists” during the United Nations Security Assembly session on September 23, the TTP issued a statement a few days later.
Last Monday, Zabihullah Mujahid, the interim government’s spokesperson for the Taliban-run Afghanistan, denied rumours that Azhar was allegedly present in the country. They said Pakistan had also issued a letter requesting that he be turned over to Islamabad.
According to the TTP, the struggle is for “freedom to uphold their culture and faith following a deal made with their elders at the time of Pakistan’s independence.”
Additionally, the TTP claimed that terrorists from Pakistan were conducting operations in neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistani intelligence agencies have openly harboured scores of armed groups they have formed for trouble in the neighbouring nations in Pakistan. Pakistan has never desired regional peace and stability, the TTP stated in a statement.
According to a source who spoke to News18, the Taliban in Afghanistan demanded a “unconditional apology” from Pakistan for “humiliating” it with its UN speech.
Despite their long-standing friendship, tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban have recently risen, mostly due to border disputes and allegations that Pakistan permitted US drones to use its airspace to attack targets in Afghanistan.
The Taliban and Pakistani security forces engaged in a firefight on September 14 as the latter attempted to build a military structure on the Afghan-Pakistani border, resulting in numerous losses on both sides.
