ISLAMABAD:
When the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Pakistan emerged as its strongest supporter, as it advocated for deeper engagement with the new rulers in Kabul and worked tirelessly to seek its international legitimacy.
Pakistan’s efforts arose from the fact that it enjoyed close and historical ties with the group and was confident that under Taliban rule relations with Afghanistan would only improve.
Islamabad’s biggest concern remained the use of Afghan land by groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates. Pakistan considered that the previous Karazi and Ghani administrations were likely complicit in allowing these groups to operate.
However, it had different expectations than the Afghan Taliban and therefore persuaded the international community to remain committed to the interim setup from the beginning.
However, it took Pakistan only a few months to realize that the Afghan Taliban and the TTP were two sides of the same coin. However, Pakistan did not give up and continued trying to find a way out of the problem.
But the “unprovoked attacks” by Afghan Taliban forces on multiple Pakistani outposts on Saturday night finally brought about a paradigm shift in Islamabad’s Afghan policy.
On Saturday, Afghan forces opened fire at multiple locations along the border, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir and Chitral areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Zhob district in Balochistan province.
The Pakistan Army responded quickly and forcefully and its retaliatory action resulted in the death of 200 Taliban and TTP operatives. While the army media provided operational details of the Afghan attacks and Pakistan’s response, the late-night statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs left a clear clue about Pakistan’s “u-turn” towards the Afghan Taliban.
In the Foreign Ministry’s readout, Islamabad refrained from describing the Kabul administration as the interim Afghan government. Instead, it was called the “Taliban regime,” a move calculated to question its legitimacy. What was most revealing in the official document was Pakistan’s desire to have a representative government in Kabul.
“Pakistan wants a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected and prosperous Afghanistan. Pakistan expects the Taliban regime to act responsibly, fulfill its commitments and play a constructive role in achieving the shared goal of eradicating terrorism from its soil.
“We also hope that one day the Afghan people will be emancipated and governed by a truly representative government,” he said in a clear departure from previous positions.
Official sources told The Express PAkGazette that the change was part of a well-calibrated move by Pakistan, reflecting the current situation.
Sources said Pakistan would no longer support the Taliban regime unless the Kabul administration changes its attitude and addresses its genuine security concerns.
Pakistan also established new rules of engagement, meaning that any new terrorist attack from across the border would require a rapid response inside Afghanistan.
