Rebutting Mullah Yaqoob’s Claim
Rebutting Mullah Yaqoob’s Claim
The Denial of Sanctuaries, Ignorance of Evidence
The recent BBC interview with Mullah Yaqoob has sparked the debate again on whether Afghanistan is a regional militant country. The Afghan acting defense minister denied that there were militant groups on the Afghan soil. He was blaming attacks on the security institutions in Pakistan. This story, however, contrasts sharply with confirmed reports on the international front and on the ground. Refusals are not so that they can cancel out facts.
BBC Responsibility in Reporting
As an international news organization BBC has a responsibility for being accurate. It must be wary of becoming a propaganda tool. It’s so called virtue is neutrality, but such uncritical interviews can be a source of propaganda. The security problems in Pakistan are multidimensional. Reducing them to accusations that cannot be checked is detrimental to serious debate.
The Myth of Independence
BBC puts itself across as independent and impartial. The truth of the matter is otherwise. It is funded by public money. The federal government of the UK approves its charter. The government is the appointer of its chairman and director general. This is representative of state influence. BBC would thus not be able to say it is an entirely autonomous voice. It becomes tainted as it acts as a voice to selective narratives.
Also Read : UN confirm BLA TTP Terror Nexus in Afghanistan
BBC was once regarded as the voice of the world however, now it seems to be more inclined to propaganda than truth. Its international bias is seen in the past trends. From the colonial era to the contemporary wars, it has been on the side of politics. In the case of Pakistan, the threat becomes real when such forums promote unsubstantiated allegations about it. Rather than being neutral the channel will be turned into a megaphone of hostile rhetoric.
The comments of Mullah Yaqoob were not surprising. His outlook has been formed by his education and training experiences in India. He talks frequently in hostility tone against Pakistan.
In the BBC interview he dismissed the reliable reports that bring to fore the existence of terrorist group in Afghanistan. Not only was his denial misleading but also politically motivated. This is more of an anti-Pakistan mood than actual evaluation of facts.
The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the United Nations Security Council has refuted these allegations by Yaqoob several times. As indicated in its 35 and 36 reports in 2025 TTP and Al-Qaeda affiliates are present in Afghanistan.
Such groups still enjoy the liberal terms of Taliban rule. This is documented evidence all over the world. The denials of Mullah Yaqoob are an effort to sanitize this fact.
Intrusion attempts are substantiated by ground realities on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In 2025, Pakistan has intercepted various incidents in Chitral, North Waziristan and Upper Dir. In August, approximately 50 Afghan terrorists got killed in Zhob. Afghan authorities were offered their bodies. These are not invented but are written facts. The trend indicates an unabated movement of militants in and out of the Pakistani soil.
Also Read : The Truth About Taliban Afghanistan
Taliban Commanders in Afghanistan
Terrorist leaders give even more evidence to their names. Head of TTP Noor Wali Mehsud and the leader of another group Hafiz Gul Bahadur are said to be in eastern Afghanistan. Places like Khost and Kunar are regarded as hide outs. This fact is not a supposition, but it is a component of verified international surveillance. The existence of these groups on the Afghan soil cannot be forgotten because of the denials made by Yaqoob.
It is not only TTP. Other terrorist organizations such as the BLA and BLF who attack Balochistan also seek shelter in Afghanistan. It has been reported that they keep training camps and bases there.
This multi group coordination exhibits a larger pattern of permissive circumstances. Such denial of this fact undermines the security of the region.
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan has become a place of militancy. This fact remains irrespective of denials. Afghan leaders instead of addressing the problem pass the blame to Pakistan. That does not solve tensions. Rather it threatens additional instability in the region.
The comments that Mullah Yaqoob made on BBC were misguided and politically inclined. They go against established facts and factual realities. Presenting such claims without challenge was something that BBC should have been cautious of. There is international evidence that militant sanctuaries exist in Afghanistan. Since TTP through BLA the list of groups that seek refuge is long. If such sanctuaries exist, the security of Pakistan is in danger. Denials can be political though evidence tells otherwise.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author and do not reflect the official stance, policies, or perspectives of the Platform.
