Ex-Afghan army chief backs Pakistan’s concerns over cross-border terrorism, alleges Indian funding for militant attacks

• Lt Gen Sami Sadat claims Taliban channel Indian financial assistance to anti-Pakistan militants

• Says Afghan authorities provide operational support to militant outfits targeting Pakistan

• Alleges external funding sustains Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan networks

 ISLAMABAD: Former Afghan Army Chief Lieutenant General Sami Sadat has publicly endorsed Pakistan’s long-standing concerns over cross-border terrorism, alleging that the Taliban maintain close ties with India and use Indian financial assistance to support militant groups responsible for carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.

In a media interview, General Sadat spoke about what he described as the financial network underpinning militant activity in the region, stating: “And it is also true that the Taliban have very close relations with India, the money they take here, and then they give that money to TTP and give it to Balochistan to carry out operations in Pakistan.”

The former Afghan military commander asserted that the Taliban facilitate militant organizations while utilizing external financial assistance to advance their strategic objectives.

General Sadat further alleged that the current Afghan authorities provide operational support to anti-Pakistan militant groups, effectively enabling them to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistani territory.

He said external funding was being redirected to sustain militant networks and claimed that Indian financial assistance specifically reached groups identified as Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan to execute terrorist attacks within Pakistan.

According to analysts, General Sadat’s remarks closely mirror concerns that Pakistan has consistently raised regarding the use of Afghan territory by militant groups for launching cross-border attacks, and allegations that such networks continue to receive external financial and operational support.