Manzoor Pashteen's relative met Indian diplomat, DG ISPR blows lid off PTM-India links

RAWALPINDI - Pak Army's spokesperson laid bare the links between Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and Pakistan's arch-rival India in a media interaction on Monday.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations questioned PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen about his relative who met Indian diplomat at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

'Why did your relative meet the Indian official on April 18,' Ghafoor questioned Manzoor Pashteen directly in his press conference.

The military's spokesperson continued and wondered how much money was paid by the Indian consulate [to PTM] in May last year for the Torkham protest.

The spokesperson clarified in point-blank remarks that Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghanistan's spy agencyNational Directorate of Security (NDS) funded PTM.

'Why PTM and TTP peddle the same narrative,' Major General Asif Ghafoor questioned and wondered why TTP issues statements in its favour.

The official raised serious questions for PTM to answer including its efforts to block the handover of Tahir Dawar's dead body to Pakistan.

'You did not attend the funeral of those who saved the lives of 800 children,' Major General Asif Ghafoor shared.

The military's spokesperson said on PTM's demand, 48 percent area was cleared of landmines and questioned whether you [PTM] was a part of the state of Pakistan or Afghanistan.

"No one can fight against the state. We were told to deal gently with PTM since day one," the DG ISPR said.

Major General Asif Ghafoor offered that PTM should hand over the list of missing persons to the army so it could trace them.

'Would you follow the policy of Pakistan or Afghanistan,' Major Gahfoor questioned and warned that PTM took enough leverage until now.

Major general Ghafoor said that he was the first one to contact PTM advising that the group should set up a camp in FATA instead of fleeing abroad.