Kabul has admitted publicly that the anti-Pakistan militant group TTP operates in the insecure Afghan areas, reinforcing Islamabad’s claim that the group uses Afghanistan for cross-border attacks inside Pakistan.
Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah during his visit to Washington, however, insisted on Thursday that Kabul does not back the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistani.
The group, he said, “operates in areas where the (Afghan) Taliban is.”
He said the TTP was not created by Afghanistan.
The Afghan CEO’s remarks came during interviews with Voice of American and a think tank appearance.
Abdullah, who shares power with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, said Kabul does not back any terror groups.
Islamabad has for long accused Afghanistan of allowing the TTP to operate from its soil.
But in his remarks, Abdullah said the Afghan Taliban sanctuaries – a reference to Pakistan – are a big issue for Afghanistan.
Both Islamabad and Kabul trade allegations of giving refuge to militants fighting the two states through cross-border terrorism.
