Taliban Denies Presence of Pakistani Taliban Fighters in Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban administration, has said that members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are not allowed to operate or remain on Afghan soil. He emphasized that Afghanistan’s territory will not be used against any neighboring country, particularly Pakistan.
Mujahid’s comments come in response to repeated concerns expressed by the Pakistani government in recent months about the presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. Islamabad has accused the Taliban of harboring the group. However, the Taliban spokesperson rejected these claims and stated that the Taliban is committed to maintaining good relations with regional countries, especially in areas of security and border cooperation.
Mujahid also claimed that there is “no foreign force” present in Afghanistan, and according to him, the country’s security situation has “significantly improved.” He reported a decrease in threats posed by the Islamic State group, asserting that Taliban forces have suppressed the group’s activities.
Discussing relations with Iran, Mujahid said that work on the Herat–Iran railway project is ongoing. He also urged officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran to treat Afghan migrants appropriately.
In response to Iran’s continuous criticism over the restriction of water from the Helmand River, Mujahid said the Taliban administration remains committed to the water agreement between the two countries and has not placed any obstacles to the water flow toward Iran. The Taliban attributed the reduced water flow to severe drought and unprecedented low rainfall in the river’s source regions.
Addressing the Taliban’s international standing, Mujahid acknowledged that no country other than Russia has officially recognized the group as a government. He confirmed that the Taliban administration continues to face challenges in gaining international recognition.
The Taliban has attributed the delay in recognition to “political and human rights concerns,” including widespread restrictions on Afghan women. While the group is making efforts to achieve international legitimacy through maintaining limited diplomatic relations and symbolic presence in certain embassies, Mujahid admitted there are “serious challenges” on this front.
