Pakistani Mufti Labels Taliban-Supported Militants as ‘Khawarij’, Highlights Cross-Border Security Threat

Mufti Abdul Rashid, head of Jamia Al-Rashid in Pakistan, described militant groups allegedly backed by the Taliban administration as “Khawarij, ignorant, and rebellious,” calling them agents of instability. Referring to the organizational structure known as “TTT,” he stated that out of its 455 members, 400 are Afghans and not Pakistani citizens. According to the Pakistani cleric, the significant presence of Afghan fighters within these groups indicates that the security crisis in the border areas is not solely an internal issue but is linked to cross-border activities. These remarks come amid ongoing criticism of the Taliban administration for failing to effectively respond to or control the actions of cross-border armed groups, a failure that has contributed to insecurity in the region.