Pakistan is set to once again raise concerns over the involvement of Afghan nationals in extorting Pakistani citizens as part of its efforts to protect its people from cross-border threats. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly pointed out that Afghan citizens are implicated in various illicit activities within Pakistan, including terrorism and extortion, and have called upon Afghanistan to take action against these elements.

During a press conference held in Peshawar, DIG Counter Terrorism Finance Imran Shahid stated that Pakistan intends to address the issue of Afghan nationals’ involvement in extortion with the interim Taliban government in Kabul. Shahid revealed that Pakistani authorities had apprehended two extortionists associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who were Afghan citizens. They were arrested in Lahore, and their mobile phones were seized as well.

These extortionists had been demanding money from businessmen, politicians, and other individuals, often leaving victims hesitant to report the crimes to local authorities due to fear. Shahid further disclosed that the arrested individuals had operated in district Mohmand and were part of a larger network with 71 additional accomplices. This network had even contacted politicians, including a senator and a provincial assembly member, to extort money.

The CTD official pointed out that the arrested TTP members had created ten WhatsApp groups dedicated to extortion. The TTP, a banned organization in Pakistan, had been significantly weakened following military operations in 2014, prompted by a devastating attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, which claimed the lives of nearly 150 individuals, primarily students.

Many TTP fighters had fled to Afghanistan, where they were pursued by US-led forces. However, with the return of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Pakistan has expressed concerns that the country has become a “safe haven” for TTP terrorists, who are also implicated in attacks on military personnel.