On April 12, 2024, Mufti Ghafran, a senior TTP commander, spoke in Pashto to a local radio station, directly challenging Islamabad's accusations that the group exploits Afghan territory for attacks.
He insisted that the organization’s operational hubs are spread across 39 districts inside Pakistan, including remote areas of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all hundreds of kilometres from the Durand Line.
Ghafran highlighted Pakistan’s extensive border fortifications—fencing, surveillance posts, lighting and landmines—to argue that routine crossings by militants are implausible.
He dismissed claims of Indian backing, labeling them part of a long‑running Pakistani narrative, and asserted that TTP finances itself through local networks rather than foreign support.
The commander warned that should Pakistani forces intensify pressure, the group could widen its footprint into other provinces, and hinted at a future pivot towards attacking economic infrastructure such as gas pipelines if it feels the state is exploiting natural resources against it.
Meanwhile, Islamabad has announced a joint military operation slated for May 2024 to target alleged TTP sanctuaries along the border, while Kabul continues to deny allowing Afghan soil to be used for attacks.