Taliban-Tehrik cooperation is a threat to Afghanistan along with Pakistan

New York/Islamabad – Taliban, who is wreaking havoc in Afghanistan, has maintained cooperation with Al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as well as other terrorist organisations in Pakistan. The United Nations has warned that about 10,000 foreign terrorists are based in Afghanistan. This cooperation between the terrorist organisations will pose a challenge to the security of Afghanistan as well as Pakistan, the report said. But Pakistani analysts have accused the report of being misleading and attempting to create mistrust between the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Two days ago, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted its report to the UN Security Council. The report provides a detailed overview of the ongoing terrorist activities in various parts of the world. The report especially mentions the Taliban in Afghanistan, which has been the focus of international attention for the past few months.

In an agreement reached in Qatar last year, the Taliban agreed to sever ties with Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organisations. But report accuses the Taliban of violating the agreement and increasing cooperation with various terrorist organisations in Pakistan. The report expresses concern over the Taliban’s cooperation with Al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In the meantime, differences had developed between the Taliban and Tehrik. But between December 2019 and August 2020, the Taliban and Tehrik reconciled. The report of the United Nations notes that the leadership of Al-Qaeda played a role in this. At the same time, other terrorist organisations in Pakistan also joined Tehrik. These include Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Hizb ul-Ahrar, Shehryar Mehsud’s group and Amjad Farooqi’s group. The United Nations has warned that cooperation with these groups has increased the strength of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Taliban.

A large number of Tehrik-i-Taliban militants are based in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, near the Pakistan border. The report clearly states that Tehreek-e-Insaf is an anti-Pakistan organisation that fully supports the Taliban’s campaign against the Ghani government in Afghanistan. Therefore, this cooperation between the Taliban and the Tehreek is equally challenging for the security of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the report warns.

Earlier this week, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud told a US news channel that he supported the Taliban’s operation in Afghanistan. Noor Wali warned, ‘The Taliban’s control over Afghanistan will help Tehreek-e-Insaf in its operations in Pakistan. It will be clear shortly.’ The warning from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief drew strong reactions from Pakistan. The UN report revealed cooperation between the Taliban and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) created a stir in Pakistan.

Pro-Taliban journalists and analysts in Pakistan have accused the UN report of creating discord between Pakistan and the Taliban. Pro-Pakistani military analysts say there is an attempt to create mistrust between the Pakistani agencies and the Taliban. Analysts claim that the report will not affect the relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban.