Afghanistan’s Strained Relations with Pakistan Fueled by Taliban Policies
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, escalating military clashes between the Taliban government forces in Kabul and the Pakistan Army, resulting in airstrikes on border regions and civilian fatalities, are not merely simple border incidents. They are the outcome of accumulated misguided policies adopted by Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Considering Pakistan’s legitimate right to self-defense against terrorism, an analysis of the Taliban government’s performance is crucial. The group’s policies regarding terrorist organizations, historical border disputes, and engagement with actors like India not only endanger the security of Pakistan and the region but also threaten Afghanistan’s own national interests and its relations with neighbors, including Iran.
The Durand Line Issue: From Colonial Legacy to Pretext for Conflict
Disputes over the Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border established in 1893 between Amir Abdur Rahman Khan and a British representative, represent one of the oldest and most fundamental sources of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Historically, no government in Kabul has officially recognized this line as a definitive border. Afghans argue that the agreement was signed under colonial pressure and lost its validity with Britain’s withdrawal from the subcontinent in 1947.
However, the current approach of the Taliban to this long-standing issue is particularly significant. Mohammed Yaqoob Mujahid, the Taliban’s acting defense minister, has explicitly stated that Pakistan seeks official recognition of the Durand Line, a demand the Taliban has rejected, deeming it a historical issue that neither the current nor previous governments could resolve. While this stance might initially appear to serve Afghanistan’s national interests, it takes on a different meaning when juxtaposed with the group’s inaction against terrorist entities operating within Afghan territory.
Pakistan has incurred substantial costs due to insecurity along its border regions in recent decades. The country’s decision to fence the Durand Line starting in 2017, despite protests from Kabul, was a practical response to the infiltration of terrorists and smugglers through porous Afghan borders. By refusing to accept international borders and simultaneously failing or refusing to control armed groups, the Taliban has effectively maintained a grey zone along the Pakistani border, benefiting terrorist groups and undermining regional stability. If the Taliban claims sovereignty over all of Afghanistan, it must also accept the responsibility of border control and preventing the use of its territory by terrorist organizations. Using the historical issue of the Durand Line as a pretext to justify inaction on this front is not only unethical and irresponsible but also contrary to the principles of good neighborliness.
Pakistan Taliban: A Safe Haven for Terrorism
Pakistan’s most serious accusation against the Taliban government is the harboring and providing sanctuary to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. This group has claimed responsibility for a significant portion of deadly terrorist attacks within Pakistan. Numerous international reports and statements from Pakistani officials confirm that TTP leaders and fighters are based in Afghanistan, from where they plan and direct operations against Pakistan.
Pakistan’s representative at the United Nations has explicitly stated that terrorism in Afghanistan poses a threat to the entire region and beyond. In response to this threat, the Pakistan Army has repeatedly targeted terrorist positions in Afghanistan’s border areas. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan, has described these attacks as the “legitimate right of defense” for his nation against terrorism.
The Afghan Taliban’s reaction to these accusations has been consistently ambiguous and contradictory. On one hand, officials like the acting defense minister claim, “Our territory is not used against Pakistan” and state readiness to provide assurances in this regard. On the other hand, on-the-ground evidence and credible reports indicate that the TTP is not only active in Afghanistan but also enjoys relative freedom of operation. The threatening remarks by the acting defense minister, who stated, “If Kabul becomes insecure, Islamabad will also become insecure,” reflect an adversarial approach lacking a proper understanding of the responsibilities of a recognized government.
This dual approach places the Taliban in an untenable and indefensible position. Diplomatically, they seek recognition and positive engagement with the world, yet in practice, they permit groups to operate that target the security of neighboring countries. Pakistan’s legitimate right to defense against these attacks is not only justifiable under international law but also a logical reaction to the Taliban’s inaction and hostile policies. As long as the Taliban government views the TTP not as a terrorist group but as a “brother” or “guest,” border tensions and retaliatory attacks by Pakistan will persist.
A Dangerous Game with Fire: India’s Presence in Afghanistan
Another noteworthy aspect of the Taliban’s foreign policy is its disregard for the long-standing enmity between India and Pakistan, and its facilitation of New Delhi’s concerning level of influence in Afghanistan. India’s history of deep alignment with what is described as a racist and anti-Islamic Zionist regime and its animosity towards Pakistan should logically preclude Afghanistan from allowing India to operate freely within its territory.
However, the reality must be acknowledged. India, as a rising regional power, has consistently sought to expand its influence in Afghanistan. India’s development and economic projects in Afghanistan, including the $300 million Salma Dam, are part of its strategy to penetrate Central Asia and undermine Pakistan’s economic encirclement. From Pakistan’s perspective, any Indian presence in Afghanistan is perceived as a strategic threat, constituting encirclement from both the east and the west.
Even if it is argued that the Taliban is not actively pursuing a policy of “negative balancing” but rather engaging with India pragmatically and sometimes opportunistically, the depth of Indian influence in Afghanistan raises alarms for Pakistan. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, has openly called India “one of the important countries in the region” and stated that the Islamic Emirate desires good relations with New Delhi. In contrast, the Taliban’s relations with Pakistan, once their primary supporter, have now reached their lowest point.
This shift in stance signals the continuation of a destabilizing strategy. The Taliban appears to be making deals with anyone who can fulfill its immediate interests, without considering the long-term consequences for regional stability. India’s presence in Afghanistan is not inherently problematic, but when combined with the Taliban’s disregard for Pakistan’s security concerns and India’s historical close ties with Israel, it creates a dangerous mix. As some analysts have pointed out, the proximity of India and Israel and their role in regional rivalries could turn Afghanistan into a stage for confrontations between powers that have no regard for the long-term interests of the Afghan people.
Furthermore, sharp and sometimes warning statements from Islamist groups in Afghanistan, which equate India’s actions with the role of Jews and refer to it as the “Israel of the region,” add to the complexity of the situation. While such rhetoric may satisfy a segment of public opinion, it places the Taliban in a position where any engagement with India could be construed as betrayal.
Conclusion
The current crisis on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is rooted in the misguided policies of the Taliban government. This militant group, now in the guise of a state, has failed to distance itself from its past legacy and adopt a consistent and responsible behavioral pattern towards its neighbors.
It is important to note that criticizing the Taliban’s policies does not equate to endorsing all of Pakistan’s actions toward Afghanistan. Rather, it emphasizes the fundamental principle that stability in Afghanistan and the region is achievable only when the country’s rulers accept that harboring terrorists, instrumentally exploiting historical border disputes, and indiscriminately playing host to foreign powers are all losing propositions.
The international community and neighboring countries, particularly Iran, must send a clear message to the Taliban through unified action: positive engagement and recognition are contingent upon a change in behavior, adherence to fundamental principles of international law and good neighborliness, and a serious confrontation with the enablers of terrorism and instability. Until then, Afghanistan under Taliban rule will remain a focal point of crisis and instability, not only internally but also at the regional level.
