ISLAMABAD: An Afghan journalist and political analyst has backed the Pakistan stance that the Afghan Taliban continues to provide safe havens to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allowing the group to plan and launch cross-border attacks into Pakistan.
Speaking in an interview with an Afghan television channel, journalist Najib Paykan said the TTP maintained an extensive presence inside Afghanistan.
“The core issue is the active and widespread presence of the TTP inside Afghan territory,” Paykan said. “The recent attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa further demonstrated that the movement is organizing its activities from its rear base in Afghanistan.”
Paykan also alleged that India was supporting the Taliban administration and accused New Delhi of encouraging policies that undermine regional security.
“India’s direct support for the Taliban and its condemnation of these strikes, being the only country to do so, further provoked the Pakistani government,” he said. “It showed that India is somehow behind this matter.”
Paykan said diplomatic efforts had failed to resolve Pakistan’s security concerns. He argued that the Taliban administration had not taken effective action against cross-border militant activity.
He added that, in his view, Pakistan had limited options other than taking decisive measures to secure its border.
