Peshawar: Asserting that it has “no external agenda”, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has said its jihad is targeted only “against the oppressive and tyrant security agencies” of Pakistan.
In a statement issued in the context of the visit of US Special Representative for Afghan Affairs Tom West to Pakistan, TTP also said that the “international community” should not intervene in the “war between Pakistan’s security forces and us”.
West was in Islamabad on a two-day visit to hold talks with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership on security issues caused by TTP and matters related to Afghan refugees who are being evicted by Pakistan forcibly.
The top diplomat of the Biden administration posted on social media platform X that he departed Islamabad after a “productive” two-day visit which concluded yesterday.
“Important conversations with (caretaker Foreign Minister) Jalil Abbas Jilani, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, (Special Representative on Afghanistan) Asif Durrani, and MOI Secretary Durrani about grave security challenges posed by TTP as well as imperative to protect Afghan refugees,” West posted.
He added that the United States stands with Pakistan against terrorism in the region.
The TTP, in its statement issued by spokesman Muhammad Khurasani, emphasized that its “Holy Jihad” is “against the oppressive and tyrant security agencies imposed on Pakistan, who seek to destroy the resources of this country and the honor of Muslims.”
It said, “Our goals are very clear. Our targets are only the Pakistani security agencies and their agents.”
He asked the international community not to “overlook the stance of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan” as it is “fighting hard for the rights of the oppressed classes”.
Khurasani said “Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has no external agenda” and “We want to tell the international community not to be a party to the ongoing war between Pakistan’s security forces and us.”
The Islamist outfit also reiterated that in its war against Pakistani security forces, it is not drawing any kind of support from outside Pakistan, a reference to Afghanistan.
“We consider it necessary to clarify that our Jihad continues from our own land with the help of our Mujahideen and people and in this regard, we do not need to use the land of any other country,” the TTP said, rejecting again the claims by Pakistan that it has bases in Afghanistan.
The Taliban rulers of Afghanistan have also been rejecting Pakistan government’s contention that TTP is being allowed to use Afghan land for terrorism in Pakistan.
In fact, the issue has resulted in a lot of acrimony between the Taliban regime and Pakistan government.
