A United Nations report has revealed that the outlawed TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) has received support from Al-Qaeda, other militant groups and, above all, apparently the Afghan Taliban, for attacks on Pakistan.
This accusation has been made in the 33rd report submitted to the United Nations Security Council by the team monitoring the activities of ISIS, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
According to the report, the matter is not limited to the supply of weapons and other equipment for attacks on Pakistan, but on-ground support is also given.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the Afghan Taliban not doing anything to stop the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan from attacking. Afghanistan’s lack of action has strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
Pakistan views the Kabul government’s reluctance to act against the outlawed TTP as a threat to its security.
The report states that the Kabul-based Taliban government is opposed to attacks by the banned TTP outside the borders of Afghanistan, however, members of the banned group have continued to attack Pakistan. The report also states that some members of the Afghan Taliban have joined the outlawed TTP as a religious duty and as a result the scope of the group’s activities has expanded.
On the other hand, members of the outlawed TTP and their families have been receiving regular aid from the Afghan Taliban. This can infer the Afghan Taliban government’s support for the outlawed group.
According to the report, the temporary detention of 70 to 200 members of the outlawed TTP and the sending of militants to the north, away from the Pak-Afghan border areas, was seen as a move to distract Pakistan.
In mid-2023, the outlawed TTP established a new base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where suicide bombers were manufactured on a large scale. Al-Qaeda’s role in providing training has been crucial. He has also given theoretical guidance. This gives an idea of how interconnected the militant networks are. According to the report, Al-Qaeda has also provided resources to the outlawed TTP.
Besides, the formation of Tehreek-e-Jihad, East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Turkestan Islamic Party and Majeed Brigade to cover the outlawed TTP explains the nature of multifaceted threats to Pakistan.
The report submitted to the Security Council also stated that the outlawed TTP has been recruiting youth as a reserve force and also training women in terrorism. Due to this situation, regional countries are very concerned.
Reports submitted by one country indicate that a faction of Al-Qaeda is providing large-scale training while the Majeed Brigade is involved in terrorism in Balochistan. The group has 60 to 80 militant members and is focusing on recruiting female suicide bombers. The Majeed Brigade has claimed responsibility for several attacks on law enforcement officials and Chinese nationals in Pakistan.