Afghan Taliban deny joining hands with Taliban Pakistan

Islamabad: Rejecting reports that they have made an alliance with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Afghanistan Taliban have asserted that they do not establish links with groups operating outside Afghanistan.

It is not the policy of Afghan Taliban to interfere in the affairs of other countries or carry out joint activities with any group outside Afghanistan, Geo.tv quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying on Thursday.

The Afghan Taliban spokesman was asked to comment on the statement earlier emailed by the TTP to media organisations that it had joined hands with the Afghan Taliban for carrying out joint activities.

The email was sent by Mohammad Khorasani, the spokesman for the Maulana Fazlullah-led TTP. This was the first time the TTP spokesman had sent an email to media organisations and this created confusion whether it was really his email or not.

The email by Mohammad Khorasani said the leaders of TTP and Afghan Taliban had decided to operate under one flag and conduct joint training programmes.

The TTP headed by Maulana Fazlullah has yet to formally pledge allegiance to the new Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who replaced the late Taliban supreme head Mullah Omar in late July.

IANS