Pakistani Military Claims Majority of Pakistani Taliban Fighters Are Afghan Nationals Operating from Afghanistan

The Commander of Pakistan’s Army and Defense Forces has stated that, in his view, approximately 70% of the fighters of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are Afghan citizens and that the group operates from within Afghan territory.

Asim Munir has once again alleged that the TTP carries out operations against Pakistan from Afghanistan and has urged the Taliban administration to make a “clear choice” between cooperating with this group or maintaining relations with Pakistan. This stance comes as both Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military chief have repeatedly made similar requests over the past three months.

In contrast, the Taliban administration denies any connections with the TTP and considers the group an “internal Pakistani issue.” Taliban officials emphasize that Afghan soil is not used against other countries, though these claims have consistently been met with skepticism and questions from regional observers.

Despite these denials, last week a group of religious scholars in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan issued a fatwa prohibiting fighters from participating in battles outside Afghanistan in the name of jihad; some experts interpret this fatwa as an effort to curb regional pressures.

In recent months, reports have emerged indicating that dozens of TTP members, including those reportedly the sons of some high-ranking Taliban officials, have been moved to Afghanistan following their deaths. The Taliban administration has yet to provide a clear response to these reports.

In another part of his remarks, Pakistan’s army chief stated that during the operation named “Bunyān al-Marsūs” against India, he distinctly felt what he described as “the help of God.”