Former Afghan Officials Respond to Pakistani Army Chief’s Comments on TTP Fighters’ Nationality

Following statements by the Chief of Pakistan’s Army and Defence Forces claiming that 70 percent of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters are Afghan, former officials of the Afghan Republic have responded to these remarks.

Mohammad Haleem Fadaei, a former governor under the republic system, said that in Pashtunkhwa, all residents, whether Taliban members or not, are considered Afghan. He emphasized that attributing the activities of an armed group to the identity of a people oversimplifies a complex reality.

Earlier, Asim Munir, the Chief of Pakistan Army, claimed that the majority of TTP fighters are Afghan and again urged the Taliban administration to, in his words, prevent the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan and to choose between Pakistan and the TTP.

Meanwhile, Omar Daudzai, another former official of the Afghan Republic, also criticized these statements, stating that linking Pakistan’s conflict with the TTP and Pakistani Taliban to the people of Afghanistan is incorrect. He stressed that this is an internal security dispute within Pakistan and its responsibility should not be placed on Afghans.