Amid escalating violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan's Home Minister Sheikh Rashid has made a shocking revelation, saying families of Afghani Taliban militants live in various regions, including Islamabad's famous areas, and are sometimes treated in local hospitals.
According to TOLOnews, Sheikh Rashid said that the Afghan Taliban families are provided with medical treatment. His statement comes at a time when Afghanistan is witnessing heavy violence during the last few weeks due to the aggressive stance of the Taliban.
Pakistan has consistently rejected allegations by Afghan leaders that the Taliban uses Pakistani soil to direct and advance insurgent activities in Afghanistan.
In an interview broadcast on Pakistan's private TV channel Geo News on Sunday, Home Minister Sheikh Rashid said: "Families of the Taliban live here in Pakistan's areas like Rawat, Lohi Bher, Bahara Kahu, and Tarnol."
The areas mentioned by the minister are famous suburbs of the capital city of Islamabad. "Sometimes, the bodies of their soldiers are brought to the hospitals, and sometimes they come here for treatment," Rashid told the channel.
Pakistan has often been accused of harbouring and supporting Afghani Taliban militants. They have been fighting with the Afghanistan government for the last two decades. It is rare for Pakistan's elite ministers and senior politicians to acknowledge this.