Pakistan says over 20,000 militants are present in Afghanistan, including 6,000 TTP fighters

Addressing a conference on the evolving counterterrorism landscape in Islamabad, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Afghan government through various international and diplomatic forums to prevent militants from using its territory. The information minister said militants were living in safe havens in Afghanistan and receiving different types of training there.

Tarar said Pakistan wanted to eliminate extremism and militancy in Afghanistan and would continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the region.

He said Pakistan was currently facing a serious challenge from militancy but had made unprecedented sacrifices in the fight against extremism, playing a significant role in safeguarding not only its own security but also that of the wider world.

The information minister claimed that Pakistan had made the greatest sacrifices in the war against militancy and suffered economic losses exceeding $100 billion. Tarar said Pakistan was also confronting the challenge of extremism, adding that state institutions and the public remained determined to work together to counter the threat.

He further said Pakistan had also played a mediating role between the United States and Iran and continued its positive diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and stability. Emphasising the importance of regional stability, the information minister said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was in the interest of not only Pakistan but the entire region.

He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to play a constructive role in establishing lasting peace in the region.