A confessional statement by an arrested militant leader, Amir Sohail, also known as Maulvi Haider, alleges that centres of the group Fitna al-Khawarij in Afghanistan receive support from the Afghan Taliban.
According to the statement, Sohail said he joined the group after being influenced by propaganda against Pakistan and received regular training at a facility in Afghanistan’s Paktika province.
He further claimed that Fitna al-Khawarij had links with other militant groups in Afghanistan, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and that it received backing from foreign intelligence agencies, specifically India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
Sohail said his network included more than 20 Afghan nationals and that he was involved in attacks targeting security forces in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Mianwali.
He added that he was arrested while attempting to enter Peshawar for medical treatment.
In the statement, Sohail also said that Fitna al-Khawarij had no connection with Islam or jihad and was engaged in militant activities in Pakistan for financial gain.
