The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) on December 8 said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had “gained considerable ground” and “increased its footprint and magnitude of activities” in Pakistan during the peace talks process, reports Dawn. NACTA made these revelations in a document presented to the participants of a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior. During the session, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Senator Mushtaq Ahmed raised concerns over the rising terror incidents in the country. In a document presented before the committee, a copy of which is available with Dawn, the security body said: “Peace talks emboldened the militants and their presence in Swat can be attributed to their efforts to gain the pulse of locals and response by the state.” It pointed out that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan last year “gave impetus” to TTP activities with its base intact in the neighbouring country.