By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased after the recent Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP)  attacks in different parts of the South Asia country.

The recent attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan have compelled Islamabad to openly speak over the silence of the Afghan Taliban over the presence of TTP in different parts of Afghanistan.

Islamabad believed that TTP militants established their hideouts in Nangarhar, Kunar, and other parts of Afghanistan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. However, Afghan Taliban always denied it.

Following attacks on Pakistani forces in Balochistan last week, the country’s army chief Gen. Asim Munir said that TTP militants have freedom of action across the border in Afghanistan and urged the Interim Taliban administration in Kabul not to allow its soil to be used against any country.

Later, top commanders of the Pakistan army also expressed deep concern over the latest attacks and warned Afghan Taliban about providing safe havens to TTP and said the TTP militants’ safe havens and sophisticated weapons pose a security risk to the country.

Later, even Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also accused Afghanistan of not fulfilling its obligations as a neighbor.

He said that Afghan Taliban is not abiding by the commitments made in the 2020 Doha agreement.

"Five to six million Afghans are living for past 40 to 50 years with all rights (in Pakistan) while on the other side, those terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis can find refuge on Afghan soil," he said in a tweet.

"This situation cannot continue any longer. Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its land and citizens," he added.

On Wednesday, Islamabad sent his Special envoy for Afghanistan Asif Durrani to discuss the latest security situation and convey Pakistan's concerns to the interim Afghan government.

During his three-day stay in Kabul, Durrani met with Afghan acting Deputy Prime Minister Maulavi Abdul Kabir, acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, and other senior officials and conveyed Islamabad's concerns over the increasing attacks of TTP from Afghanistan.

However, in response, Afghan Taliban leaders assured the visiting Pakistani envoy that Kabul will not allow anyone to use its soil against Pakistan.

Kabir also suggested to Islamabad to prefer peace instead of wars as a country Afghanistan have seen the bitter experiences of wars, according to state-run Bakhtar News.

Apparently, he was referring to resume talks with TTP instead of continuing military operations against them.

• TTP militants roaming in Afghanistan

Afghan Taliban repeatedly denies the presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan and says all TTP leaders returned to Pakistan following the Afghan Taliban's return to Kabul in August 2021.

However, the ground reality is different than the Afghan Taliban claim as locals in Kunar province confirmed the presence of TTP in their areas.

“TTP militants roaming freely in our areas and even their families are also living here,” a local resident of Kunar told The South Asia Times over the phone on condition of anonymity due to security reasons.

Islamabad also believed that TTP militants living in Afghanistan, plan and carry out attacks from there.

However, the current tension and raising of attacks have also disheartened the people of both countries who celebrate the Afghan Taliban's return to Kabul with the hope that the region will now move to peace.

“We were happy that Afghan Taliban will now treat us like brothers and help us to bring peace in the region but now they are supporting TTP which is really shocking for us,” Mr. Abid [his full name not mentioned because of his security], a local resident of Khyber District of Pakistan said.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan cannot move forward without mutual cooperation and peace in the region, which will only come when both work together,” he added.