Kabul – The Afghan Taliban face growing pressure over the handling of funds provided by a Gulf state for the resettlement of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) families in Ghazni province. The pilot project, launched with $6 million, aimed to relocate nearly 2,000 families and ensure disarmament. However, the absence of financial records and relocation details has triggered doubts about transparency.
Donor suspends support
The Gulf donor had agreed to back the program as a step toward regional stability. But the Taliban’s inability to provide documentation on spending and monitoring has forced the donor to freeze further assistance. Officials linked to the project confirmed that additional TTP resettlement funding will remain suspended until evidence emerges that families are still in Ghazni and not returning to Pakistan.
Hopes for wider international support have also faded. Western partners remain skeptical about the Taliban’s ability to enforce long-term commitments. Observers note that the Taliban’s pledge to disarm the relocated families has not been independently verified.
Pakistan’s concerns grow
Islamabad previously considered offering Rs30 billion to facilitate resettlement of militants, but the plan collapsed amid mistrust of the Afghan leadership. The return of Lashkar-e-Islam fighters to the Tirah Valley, despite earlier relocation to Uruzgan in 2021, heightened Pakistani concerns about the reliability of such projects.
Intelligence reports further suggest that a faction of the Afghan Taliban maintains links with the TTP. In addition, Baloch insurgents are believed to have found shelter in Afghan territory. These developments complicate Pakistan’s security calculations and reinforce doubts about the effectiveness of donor-funded resettlement initiatives.
Diplomatic fallout
The issue also surfaced during a Pak-Afghan meeting in Islamabad this week. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was notably absent, as his request for a UN travel exemption was denied. Reports suggest the United States blocked the waiver.
Taliban ministers remain subject to UN sanctions, requiring special exemptions for international travel. Muttaqi’s planned visit to India was also canceled following the denial of his request to travel to Pakistan.
The stalled TTP resettlement funding highlights the challenges facing regional efforts to address militancy through relocation programs. Without credible financial reporting and stronger guarantees of disarmament, donor states appear unwilling to extend further resources.
