Many missing persons hiding in Afghanistan: arrested TTP commander

The Balochistan government announced arrest of two prominent leaders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday, marking a significant achievement in the fight against terrorism.

The arrested individuals are Nasrullah, alias "Maulvi Mansoor," and Idris, alias "Irshad."

"We have apprehended an important terrorist network. The militants have been arrested after a difficult operation," Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove said while speaking at a press conference.

He congratulated the law enforcement agencies for their effective operation against terrorists and accused "India is responsible for supporting and financing terrorist activities."

The minister advised youth to discern the enemy's intentions and not be influenced by their rhetoric, stating "Misguided individuals are causing harm to their nation, province, and fellow citizens."

"Youth who are abroad have been misled and lured into destructive actions,” said Ziaullah Langove.

A video statement of the arrested terrorist Nasrullah was played before the press conference of Langove.

In video, the detained militant said “My name is Nasrullah alias Maulvi Mansoor, I belong to Wachakhora village of Sararogha district of South Waziristan. I belong to the Mehsud tribe and I am 44 years old. I have been participating in subversive activities from the platform of Baitullah Mehsud since 2005 before the TTP came into being. When TTP came into existence in 2007, I joined it. Thus, I have been associated with TTP for the past 16 years, during which I directly participated in several terrorist operations and during Operation Zarb-e-Azb escaped to Afghanistan and settled in Paktika.”

The detained TTP commander further revealed that many "missing people" are hiding in Afghanistan.

“During these 16 years, I participated in virtually all terrorist operations against Pakistan's security forces. I participated in the operations of attacks on various check posts of the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan, South Waziristan, DI Khan, and the Pak-Afghan border. In these attacks, the law enforcement agencies and the people lost a lot of lives and money. I have been working in various positions within TTP. After that, I have been working as Ameer in Defense Commission of TTP since 2023.”

Nasrullah added “My responsibility was to centrally control all military, financial, and other affairs for the TTP. I also controlled the supply and demand of the formations sent to Pakistan, apart from arms and ammunition. In January 2024, TTP chief Mufti Noor Ali Mehsud and Defense Minister Mufti Muzahim called me to Kandahar, Afghanistan, and told me that for a specific purpose, we have to go to Baluchistan province of Pakistan and we should be guided by BLA through Spinbold. And was to cross the border from the south of Balochistan with help.”

“This plan was made by Mufti Sahib along with BLA Majeed Brigade Commander Bashir Zeb. Behind all this work was the hand of the Indian secret agency RAW, which wanted BLA and TTP to be merged and centers for TTP to be established in the Khuzdar area of ​​Balochistan. Apart from this, their aim was to create safe havens in different areas of Balochistan and carry out terrorist activities from there, which could worsen the situation in Balochistan.”

Furthermore, Nasrullah also said “Mufti Noor Ali Mehsud and Mufti Muzahim said that we and our friends i.e. RAW have 3 objectives behind establishing a foothold in Balochistan, the first of which is to sabotage CPEC, which includes targeting Chinese residents. Second was abducting people and fueling the issue of enforced disappearances to discredit the intelligence agencies and third was carrying out acts of terrorism in Balochistan to spread anxiety and despair among the people.”

“I was strictly ordered not to discuss any religious matters with the BLA. Mufti said that BLA has nothing to do with religion. Hearing these things, when I raised the question about the unnatural alliance of BLA and TTP, Maulvi Noor Wali got angry, but Mufti Muzahim dismissed the matter. A BLA leader took us across the border through a difficult area in the dark of night and handed us over to another BLA leader. During the journey, the leader often looked around and talked to someone on the phone. My colleagues and I doubted it. Along with the leader, we traveled a short distance towards Kalat when we came across a patrolling party of the army.”

“True to our fears, the BLA leader left us there and ran away. We tried to run away but we were soon arrested. BLA tricked us as per the plan, during the interrogation we told all the truth. Today I can say with full confidence that India is behind the entire system of TTP, especially the financial system. Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud meets the Indian intelligence agency RAW in the Indian embassy in Kabul, which is fully supported by the current Afghan government and the current Afghan government also provides financial support, training, and manpower to the TTP.”

“I ask Mufti Noor Wali, where did the bomb-proof vehicles used by him and the vehicles used by his children and family come from? He gives a fatwa to make others' children commit suicide and send them to heaven, so why doesn't he use the same way to send even one of his children to heaven? I myself am Mehsud and I want to draw the attention of the elders of all tribes to ask Mufti Noor Wali why only children of other tribes are being killed in terrorist activities. I am sure that TTP leadership including Mufti Noor Wali will not be able to answer this,” said Nasrullah.

“But today I want to put the answer in front of everyone that the only condition for TTP to hold all positions especially financial matters is to be Mehsud, while the children of other tribes are unjustly killed by the groups hostile to Pakistan. Objectives are being met. All the leadership of TTP including Maulvi Noor Wali is present in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban government is not only supporting the TTP but also providing them with complete facilitation. All TTP commanders are roaming freely in Afghanistan. BLA especially Majeed Brigade Commander Bashir Zeb is also living in Afghanistan, they all keep meeting each other and RAW is behind these meetings.”

Regretting on his past and association with TTP, Nasrullah said “I seek forgiveness not only from Allah but also from all those who were harmed by my so-called Jihad.”