Sana says TTP could have up to 10,000 fighters

Federal Minister of Interior Rana Sanaullah has said that the number of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist in the region was between 7,000 to 10,000.

In an interview with a private news channel, he revealed that they were accompanied by 25,000 members of their families.

Sanaullah pointed out that some locals were also involved in crimes such as extortion and blackmail and alleged that the provincial government had failed to stop them.

“The biggest reason for this is the failure of [the] Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Counter Terrorism Department […] It is their job to stop it.”

Commenting on the prevalent viewpoint that TTP took the dialogue and ceasefire excuse to regroup, Sana said the group never scattered and was further bolstered by the success of the Afghan Taliban.