Pakistan and Tajikistan Express Concern Over 25 Armed Groups Operating in Afghanistan
Pakistan and Tajikistan’s interior ministers, during an official meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, declared that the presence of 25 armed organizations and the expansion of drug production in Afghanistan pose a serious threat to regional security. The Pakistani news outlet Dawn reported on Saturday, June 6, that Mohsin Naqvi and Ramazan Rahimzoda focused their talks on the existence of “terrorist camps” inside Afghanistan. According to the report, both sides agreed that this situation has raised extensive security concerns for neighboring countries.
The interior ministers of Pakistan and Tajikistan emphasized that currently 25 armed groups are active in Afghanistan, although no further details about the names of these groups were provided.
Pakistan has previously designated the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist organization and accused the Taliban administration of supporting this group. Islamabad has repeatedly claimed that attacks within Pakistani territory have increased following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan.
In response, the Taliban administration has denied these allegations, asserting that it does not allow Afghan soil to be used against other countries. Nevertheless, the continuing security concerns voiced by neighboring states indicate that the Taliban has yet to effectively earn regional trust in controlling armed groups and preventing cross-border threats.
