New reports indicate that the Taliban authorities have relocated families associated with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants from the Durand Line border areas to northern and northwestern Afghanistan, even as they publicly claim no support for the militant group.
According to verified sources, approximately 100 families were moved from Barmal District in Paktika Province to Balkh Province in northern Afghanistan. The relocation appears aimed at protecting these families from ongoing Pakistan Army airstrikes targeting militant positions along the border.
The move underscores a contradictory stance by the Taliban: while repeatedly asserting that they do not assist TTP operationally, evidence suggests they are providing sanctuary and logistical support to the militants’ families, allowing the group to maintain operational depth in border regions. Security analysts highlight that this duality complicates counterterrorism efforts by Pakistan and raises broader concerns about militant safe havens within Afghanistan.
Pakistan has consistently emphasized the need for Afghan authorities to deny safe havens to militants along the border, warning that cross-border militancy threatens regional stability. The movement of TTP-linked families not only preserves the group’s human and logistical network but also illustrates the complex interplay of politics, security, and humanitarian considerations in conflict-affected regions.
The relocation comes amid intensified Pakistan military operations along the Durand Line, which aim to neutralize TTP threats and safeguard civilian populations. Analysts note that while the protection of families in conflict zones raises humanitarian concerns, their deliberate movement by Taliban authorities also indicates tacit support for TTP despite official denials.
This development highlights the urgent need for bilateral and international coordination to address cross-border militancy, monitor movements of extremist networks, and mitigate risks to civilian populations caught between military operations and militant networks.
The ongoing situation reflects the paradoxical role of the Taliban: publicly distancing themselves from Pakistan-based militants,yet simultaneously sheltering their families and preserving the group’s operational infrastructure—posing a continuing challenge to regional security and counterterrorism strategies.
