Mohammad Sadiq Khan Urges Taliban to Act Against TTP, Warns of Strained Bilateral Agreements
Tawazon– Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, has urged the Afghan Taliban to take meaningful action against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), cautioning that continued inaction could impact existing agreements and cooperation between the two countries.
Khan made these remarks on April 7 while speaking at a seminar titled “A Holistic Appraisal of the Security and Governance Challenges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, organized by the Islamabad Institute of Political Studies. He identified the TTP’s activities as a key point of concern in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
He stated that the group’s operations are contributing to a deteriorating security situation in Pakistan, particularly in provinces such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Khan emphasized that addressing the matter should be a top priority in bilateral dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul.
Referring to the events of September 11, 2001, Khan cautioned that failure to act against militant threats could have wider implications for regional stability. He stressed the need for both countries to collaborate in finding long-term solutions to shared security challenges.
According to Khan, the presence and mobility of TTP members in Afghanistan remains a matter of concern. He said that the issue cannot be resolved through isolated arrests or killings but requires sustained efforts to limit the group’s operations and influence.
He further stated that Pakistani authorities possess a list of 500 Afghan nationals alleged to be involved in cross-border attacks. Some of these individuals, he claimed, are reportedly linked to well-known Taliban families. These assertions, however, have not been independently verified.
Khan also raised concerns over reports that TTP members move freely within Afghanistan and possess weapons, urging greater oversight and accountability.
In concluding his remarks, Khan warned that the consequences of inaction could affect not only Afghanistan but also the wider region. He said that the people of both countries should not have to bear the cost of delayed or insufficient responses to security threats.
His comments come amid a rise in violence in Pakistan, particularly in the northwest, where attacks on both security personnel and civilians have increased. Pakistani officials have attributed much of the unrest to the TTP, which they allege is operating from within Afghan territory.
Since his appointment, Khan has visited Kabul twice to discuss security cooperation, although no major breakthroughs have been reported so far.
