Pakistani Taliban set up base in Syria, BBC reports

Published
17

KARACHI: The Pakistan Taliban militants set up a cell in Syria six months ago to monitor "the jihad" in the region, the BBC Urdu website reported on Friday.

The militants had visited Syria to set up a base with the assistance of ex-Afghan fighter from the Middle East who had recently moved to the region and to assess the "needs of jihad", Mohammad Amin, a Taliban operative told BBC.

Amin was further quoted as saying that the cell, approved by militant factions both within and outside of the TTP, sends "information and feedback" on the conflict in Syria back to Pakistan.

Their job is to "assess the needs of the Jihad in Syria, and to work out joint operations with our Syrian friends", the senior Taliban member added.

The presence of the Taliban in Syria is perceived to have a sectarian motive as some factions of the militant organisation feel that Sunni Muslims, who constitute a majority in Syria, are being oppressed by Syria's predominantly Shia rulers.

Opinion

Editorial

After the talks
Updated 05 Oct, 2026

After the talks

Considering how close they came to a solution, govt and opposition teams should reconvene to give the talks another chance.
Child safety online
Updated 05 Oct, 2026

Child safety online

PAKISTANI children are spending more of their lives online, but the safeguards around them are not keeping pace. A...
Rising public debt
05 Oct, 2026

Rising public debt

PAKISTAN’S public debt has surged by 76pc to Rs86.7tr in four years, according to a new government report. Though...
Yemen offensive
Updated 04 Oct, 2026

Yemen offensive

The best option, therefore, is for Muslim and Arab states to help restore the Saudi-Houthi ceasefire.
Growth transition
04 Oct, 2026

Growth transition

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent call to move from stabilisation to growth, job creation and export ...
Protection at risk
04 Oct, 2026

Protection at risk

THE recent warning from UNHCR should alarm donor governments. Nearly 8.3m refugees and other forcibly displaced...