Former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has confirmed that there is clear and documented evidence proving that Afghan soil is being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan. He stated that both the provincial and federal governments possess solid proof that the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is operating from Afghanistan and conducting attacks inside Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a report by Ansar Abbasi, Editor Investigations for Jang and The News, Ali Amin Gandapur made these remarks during a conversation with The News. He said that, in his capacity as former chief minister, he can categorically confirm that the issue is not based on assumptions or political statements, but on verifiable intelligence and documentary evidence available with the state.
Ali Amin Gandapur stated that the TTP has been using Afghan territory as a base to plan, coordinate, and execute terrorist attacks in Pakistan. “Both the provincial and federal governments have concrete evidence that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is carrying out terrorism in Pakistan from Afghanistan, especially targeting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
He further alleged that these activities are taking place with the knowledge and support of the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan). According to him, the presence and movement of TTP militants across the border are not hidden, and Afghan authorities are fully aware of these operations. “This is all happening with the knowledge of the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban, and with their backing,” he claimed.
The former chief minister said that several terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa involved Afghan nationals, adding that in many cases, Afghan citizens were either found involved in terrorist activities or were arrested during operations conducted by Pakistani security agencies. He said that arrests of Afghan nationals in terrorism-related cases further strengthen Pakistan’s position that militant networks are operating from across the border.
Ali Amin Gandapur emphasized that Pakistan has repeatedly raised this issue at various forums, but the security challenge continues to persist. He stressed that terrorism emanating from across the border has had a devastating impact on peace and stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces and civilians have both suffered heavy losses over the years.
He added that the provincial government, during his tenure, remained in close coordination with federal authorities and security institutions regarding counterterrorism efforts. According to him, intelligence reports and evidence were regularly shared at official forums, leaving no ambiguity about the source of the threat.
The statement comes amid an ongoing political and security debate in Pakistan regarding the role of Afghanistan in cross-border terrorism. Recently, current Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, had stated that the state must present concrete evidence to support the claim that Afghan soil is being used for terrorist activities in Pakistan. His remarks triggered political reactions and renewed discussions about Pakistan’s security policy toward Afghanistan.
Responding indirectly to such views, Ali Amin Gandapur reiterated that the evidence already exists and is available with relevant authorities. He suggested that the issue is not the absence of proof but rather how the state chooses to diplomatically and strategically handle the situation. “This is not a matter of speculation. The evidence is there,” he said.
Political leaders have also weighed in on the issue. Earlier, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi had questioned who else could be responsible for terrorism in the province if Afghanistan was not involved. Similarly, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar has called for decisions on counterterrorism to be made by taking the provincial assembly into confidence, emphasizing political consensus on national security matters.
Security analysts say that Ali Amin Gandapur’s remarks reflect growing frustration within Pakistan over continued militant attacks despite repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban that Afghan soil would not be used against neighboring countries. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of failing to curb the activities of the TTP.
According to official data, terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan have increased in recent years, with security forces often pointing to cross-border movement of militants. Analysts argue that porous borders, ideological affinity, and regional dynamics have complicated Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate the threat completely.
Experts also note that while Pakistan claims to have shared evidence with Afghan authorities on multiple occasions, the Afghan Taliban have largely denied the allegations or insisted that they are not allowing any group to use Afghan soil against Pakistan. This divergence in positions has strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
Ali Amin Gandapur concluded by saying that Pakistan’s foremost priority should be the protection of its citizens and security personnel, and that the state must adopt a firm and unified approach to counter terrorism. He stressed that acknowledging the source of the threat is the first step toward an effective and lasting solution.
His statement has once again brought the issue of cross-border terrorism into the spotlight, highlighting the complex security challenges Pakistan continues to face and the urgent need for coordinated political, diplomatic, and security responses to address them.
