TTP’s leadership is in Afghanistan, says Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the TTP leadership is based in Afghanistan and Taliban's interim government is responsible for terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

In an exclusive interview, he shared insights into the behind-the-scenes diplomacy and the expectations moving forward regarding the ceasefire with Afghanistan.

He called the agreement a result of a unified government effort, adding that he views the agreement with “guarded optimism.”

“A one-page deal was reached, with implementation talks to follow in Turkey. If violated, regional allies with influence over the Taliban will be engaged,” Khawaja Asif said.

Asif shed light on Pakistan’s unified diplomatic push for peace, the conditions tied to the agreement, and how the TTP is linked with Afghanistan.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the TTP’s leadership is based in Afghanistan. He emphasized that Afghanistan bears responsibility for every terrorist attack carried out inside Pakistan.

Khawaja Asif revealed that while Afghan authorities may eventually claim they have no links with the TTP, “the reality is different, the TTP leadership operates from Afghanistan, where they have training camps, residences, and other support structures.” He added that every bomb blast in Pakistan “is directly connected to them.”

He used the term “guarded optimism” and said that he does not have overly high expectations for the ceasefire.

“It’s too early to say whether the ceasefire will hold or not, but we are being cautious because the government influenced this as a unified effort to reach the agreement,” he maintained.

“If the agreement is violated, the brotherly countries that facilitated the agreement and have considerable influence over the Afghan Taliban will be approached.

The atmosphere during the negotiations was not tense. A brief, one-page agreement has been reached, and its implementation will be discussed in Turkey,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif explained.