Suicide attacks to decline, hopes NDS

KABUL, the country’s spy service hoped on Saturday.

In move highlighting the growing threat from the group, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — blamed for killing hundreds of Pakistanis and attacking US interests — was added to the UN Security Council’s sanctions list on August 29.

Although the terrorist outfit has no physical presence in Afghanistan, it has strong links to the Taliban’s Quetta and Peshawar Shuras, a spokesman for the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said.

Lotfullah Mashal told a news briefing in Kabul the TTP sold suicide bombers to the Afghan Taliban and persuaded insurgents to sneak into Afghanistan for carrying out attacks. The group sold each bomber for 500,000 to 600, 000 Pakistani rupees, he claimed.

“Now that the TTP has been put on the UN Security Council’s blacklist, suicide attacks in Afghanistan will decrease,” Mashal said.

Subject to an asset freeze and arms embargo, the group had claimed responsibility for last year’s failed car bombing in New York’s Times Square.

As a result of the action, backed by the US, Britain and Pakistan, TTP leaders Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman are slapped with the sanctions, including a travel ban.

mud

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