Islam Times - Pakistan rejects presence of pro-Taliban terrorists in Syria

Islam Times - Pakistan’s foreign ministry has rejected reports that pro-Taliban terrorists in Pakistan have joined the foreign-backed militants fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Azaz Ahmed Chaudhry said that “no militant has left the country.”

He said that Islamabad would never like terrorist groups to travel to other countries and take part in terrorist activities, adding that “Pakistani officials will never allow them to do so.”

Spokesman for Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, Umar Hameed also repudiated the reports, saying that Pakistan’s security forces are on the alert at all exit points of the country and nobody can travel abroad illegally.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s envoy in Damascus Wahid Ahmed refuted the reports, saying the embassy has not received any complaint concerning the presence or activity of pro-Taliban terrorists in the Arab country.

On Sunday, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders in Pakistan said they have set up camps and sent hundreds of militants to Syria.

"We have established our own camps in Syria. Some of our people go and then return after spending some time fighting there," a Taliban commander said on condition of anonymity.

Foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria has taken its toll on the lives of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, since March 2011.

Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

On July 12, Mohammad Amin, a Taliban operative and “coordinator of the Syrian base,” said that the Taliban base was set up in Syria some six months ago. He added that it sends “information and feedback” on the situation in Syria.

Western powers and their regional allies including the Israeli regime, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are partners in supporting anti-Syria militant groups, such as al-Qaeda-linked terrorists, to destabilize Syria and overthrow the Syrian government.