Trust in Taliban Was Misplaced, Says Durrani

DID Press: Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, said the surge in deadly attacks inside Pakistan and the conduct of the Taliban authorities have pushed Islamabad into a position where it sees “no option but military action.” He said Pakistan misjudged the nature of its relationship with the Taliban and that the “Taliban regime” has left Islamabad with little room for maneuver.

Referring to four major attacks this month that killed 60 people in Pakistan, Durrani claimed the Afghan Taliban lack the will to curb the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and alleged that some individuals linked to the Afghan Taliban are embedded within the group’s structure.

The former diplomat added that Taliban outreach to India and Iran is not strategic but interest-based. He said ties with India would not be a concern so long as Afghan territory is not used against Pakistan’s security. Durrani argued that the Taliban must recognize they cannot endure without constructive relations with neighbors, and that both Afghanistan and Pakistan remain vulnerable without mutual cooperation.

Durrani said that during the talks in Istanbul and Doha, the Taliban did not provide clear answers on the TTP issue, after which attacks by the group escalated. He urged Afghans to question the Taliban over why they provide sanctuary to the TTP.

On Sunday evening, Pakistan’s air force carried out extensive strikes in Afghanistan’s border regions, particularly in Nangarhar and Paktika. Islamabad said the operation targeted hideouts of the TTP and Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 13 civilians were killed in Nangarhar, while the Taliban said women and children were among the victims.