CENTCOM chief points to Taliban inaction against TTP

Gen Kurilla sees militant outfit a threat to Pakistan’s border regions

ISLAMABAD:

A top US General has said the Afghan Taliban government has shown little interest in acting against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and is unlikely to change that approach in the latest assessment shared with the US Senate Arms Services Committee.

General Michael E Kurilla, Commander, US CENTRAL Command said the TTP was presenting a "significant threat" to stability in Pakistan’s border regions.

The top general also told the Senate panel that there were no signs the Afghan Taliban would change that policy. "The Taliban has shown little interest in applying counter-terrorism pressure against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), presenting a significant threat to stability in Pakistan’s border regions," General Kurilla said.

"We do not expect that dynamic to change," he added.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained tense for many months as the Taliban regime has refused to act against the TTP.

There has been an upsurge in terrorist attacks sponsored by the TTP since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

The CENTCOM chief said that the presence of safe havens in Afghanistan were increasing the risk of violent extremist organisations (VEOs) inciting regional conflict.

"VEOs killed at least 2,300 Pakistanis in 2023, with TTP in particular attacking Pakistan 881 times, the highest rate in over five years," according to Gen Kurilla.

In addition to hundreds of attacks by TTP, he said ISIS-K conducted at least three high-profile bombings in Pakistan in 2023 and plotted to conduct more attacks throughout Central Asia.

"The Taliban’s inability, or unwillingness, to rein in VEOs could destabilise Central and South Asia," he warned.

"These groups have leveraged poor economic conditions, lax governance in Afghanistan, and a sophisticated network to recruit, train, and sustain an expanding cadre of fighters."

The US General said the Taliban targeted some key ISIS-K leaders in 2023, but it has shown neither the capability nor the intent to sustain adequate counterterrorism pressure.

"In fact, this lack of sustained pressure allowed ISIS-K to regenerate and harden their networks, creating multiple redundant nodes that direct, enable, and inspire attacks," he said.

Pakistan has been repeatedly demanding decisive action against the TTP from the Taliban government. However, Kabul is reluctant to pay heed to Pakistan’s calls, threatening to unravel ties between the two estranged neighbours.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesperson, on Sunday told the Afghan media that Kabul wanted good relations with Pakistan under the new government.

He, however, said the interim government expects Pakistan’s new government to review its policy of expulsion of Afghan nationals.

Pakistan has deported hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghan nationals in a nationwide drive that began in November last year.

The Taliban government termed Pakistan’s move "inhuman and cruel." But Islamabad rejected the criticism and insisted the move was necessary in view of the security situation. Pakistan said that many undocumented Afghan nationals were involved in criminal activities, drug trafficking and terrorism.

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN defended the policy at a recent UNSC session on Afghanistan. Ambassador Munir Akram urged the UN and other stakeholders to create a situation in Afghanistan so that all Afghans returned to their homeland.

He also denied reports that Pakistan forced Afghans to return home. He said 98 per cent returned to their country voluntarily while the rest of them were forced to leave since they were involved in criminal and other illegal activities.