On August 3, 2023, Taliban supreme leader Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada issued a fatwa banning Afghans from participating in jihad outside Afghanistan and distancing themselves from haram acts of terrorism.

This decree, while seemingly an effort to distance the Taliban from terrorism, raises a crucial question: If the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) isn’t in Afghanistan, and not operating into Pakistan from Afghan territory, why the need for such a directive? The Taliban’s attempt to project an image of a responsible ruling entity is in direct contradiction with the realities on the ground, where the TTP and other terrorist groups continue to operate with impunity.

Recently, the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) acknowledged relocating TTP militants within Afghanistan, specifically in Ghazni. This admission aligns with Pakistan’s consistent claims that TTP operatives have been using Afghan territory as a base for launching cross-border attacks into Pakistan. The relocation of these militants within Afghanistan not only underscores their established presence but also highlights the complex security challenges that Pakistan has been facing due to this persistent threat. This situation reveals a disturbing reality: despite the Taliban’s public denial, the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan is an open secret. The Taliban’s efforts to shield these militants contradict their supposed commitment to........

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