Number of TTP militants in Pakistan-Afghanistan border region range between 7,000 and 10,000: Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah
The Hindu
Rana Sanaullah also revealed that the rebels were accompanied by 25,000 members of their families.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group has between 7,000 to 10,000 fighters in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.
Mr. Sanaullah also revealed that the rebels were accompanied by 25,000 members of their families. His remarks to Dawn News TV come at a time when the TTP has stepped up its countrywide attacks, including the first suicide bombing in the capital Islamabad since 2014.
The TTP has increased the attacks on security forces since November when they ended a months-long cease-fire with the Pakistan government. Mr. Sanaullah pointed out that some locals were also involved in crimes such as extortion and blackmail and alleged that the provincial government had failed to stop them, Dawn newspaper reported.
“The biggest reason for this is the failure of (the) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Counter Terrorism Department (…) It is their job to stop it,” the Interior Minister said, blaming the provincial government led by ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
He said that Pakistan had its Army for the protection of the borders, adding that if the provincial government cannot handle the situation, it can request the federal government.
“The Army will eliminate all such elements of terrorism.” Commenting on the prevalent viewpoint that TTP took the dialogue and ceasefire excuse to regroup, Mr. Sanaullah said the group never scattered and was further bolstered by the success of the Afghan Taliban.
Agreeing with the idea of an all-party conference or a national security meeting on the emerging threat of terrorism, the Minister said such huddles must take place but stressed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government first needed to sit with the federal government and talk.
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