Mahmood Khan Achakzai: Pakistan’s Leaders Follow Colonial Legacy

DID Press: Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of Pakistan’s National People’s Party, criticized Islamabad’s current government, describing its policies as a continuation of colonial legacy and claiming that Pakistan has three specific demands from Afghanistan.

In a recent social media post, Achakzai outlined Pakistan’s demands on Afghanistan as follows: recognition of the Durand Line as the official border, placing Afghanistan’s foreign policy under Islamabad’s influence, and ensuring that Kabul complies with directives from Pakistan’s rulers.

Referring to the current policymakers in Islamabad, Achakzai said they lack the necessary skills and understanding of international relations, saying: “The current government knows neither the art of diplomacy nor the value of friendship and engagement with neighbors. They are heirs to a colonial mindset that keeps Pakistan dependent.”

These statements come as Afghanistan-Pakistan relations have reached their lowest point in recent years, and mediation talks led by Qatar and Turkey to reduce tensions have so far yielded no results.

At the same time, analytical sources report that a quadrilateral plan involving the United States, Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkey is under development. The goal of the plan is to establish “flexible and controllable” leadership within the Taliban, to prevent the return of extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS, and to pave the way for international recognition of the Taliban.

According to London-based Afghan journalist Sami Yusufzai, the plan even includes the potential handover of Bagram Air Base to the United States in exchange for formal recognition of the Taliban. Pakistan plays a key role in this process, taking a hardline approach to align the Taliban’s policies with regional objectives. Meanwhile, Turkey has sought to maintain relations with the Taliban while preserving traditional ties with figures such as General Abdul Rashid Dostum.

In addition, over recent months, signs of renewed engagement between Washington and Islamabad have emerged. Multiple visits by senior Pakistani officials to the United States, along with high-level meetings in Washington, indicate efforts to rebuild strategic and security cooperation between the two countries.