Recent developments in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have once again shown how fragile stability in this part of the Asian continent is and how dependent it is on the responsible or irresponsible decisions of governments.
Guest Commentary by Ehsan Movahedian: The widespread military clashes between the forces of the Taliban government in Kabul and the Pakistani army, which led to the aerial bombardment of border areas and civilian casualties, are not merely a simple border incident, but rather the result of the accumulation of misguided policies that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, has pursued.
Considering Pakistan’s inalienable right to legitimate self-defense against terrorism, one must analyze the performance of the Taliban government and note that this group’s policies towards terrorist groups, historical border disputes, and engagement with actors such as India not only endanger the security of Pakistan and the region but also threaten the national interests of Afghanistan itself and its relations with neighbors, including Iran.
**The Durand Line Issue: From Colonial Legacy to Pretext for Conflict**
The dispute over the Durand Line is one of the oldest and most deep-rooted factors of tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. This 2,640-kilometer border line, established in 1893 between Amir Abdur Rahman Khan and a British representative, has historically not been recognized as an official and definitive border by any government in Kabul. Afghans argue that this agreement was signed under colonial pressure and lost its validity with the British withdrawal from the subcontinent in 1947.
However, the crucial point in the current situation is the Taliban’s approach to this longstanding dilemma. Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid, the Taliban government’s Minister of Defense, has explicitly stated that Pakistan demands the recognition of the Durand Line as an official border, but the Taliban reject this demand, considering it a historical issue that neither the current government nor previous governments have been able to resolve. At first glance, this stance might seem in line with Afghanistan’s national interests, but when considered alongside this group’s inaction against terrorist groups based on Afghan soil, it takes on a completely different meaning.
In recent decades, Pakistan has paid a heavy price for insecurity along its border regions. The country’s decision to fence the Durand Line starting in 2017, although met with protests from Kabul, was in practice a response to the infiltration of terrorists and smugglers through Afghanistan’s porous borders. By not accepting international borders and, at the same time, being unable or unwilling to control armed groups, the Taliban effectively maintain a grey zone on the border with Pakistan, which benefits terrorist groups and harms regional stability. If the Taliban claim sovereignty over all of Afghanistan’s territory, they must also accept the responsibility of controlling the borders and preventing terrorist groups from using this soil. The instrumental use of the historical Durand Line issue to justify shortcomings in this area is not only unethical and irresponsible but also contrary to the principles of good neighborliness.
**The Pakistani Taliban: A Safe Haven for Terrorism**
Pakistan’s most serious accusation against the Taliban government is supporting and harboring the terrorist group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or the Pakistani Taliban. This group is responsible for a major portion of deadly terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil. 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 to 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 Pakistani army has repeatedly targeted terrorist positions in Afghanistan’s border areas. Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan, has called these attacks the “legitimate right of defense” of his people against terrorism.
The Afghan Taliban’s reaction to these accusations has always been ambiguous and contradictory. On one hand, officials like the Taliban’s Defense Minister claim, “Our soil will not be used against Pakistan,” stating they are ready to provide commitments in this regard. On the other hand, field evidence and credible reports indicate that the TTP not only has an active presence in Afghanistan but also enjoys relative freedom of movement. The threatening remarks by the Taliban’s Defense Minister, who said, “If Kabul becomes insecure, Islamabad will also become insecure,” indicate a confrontational approach lacking a proper understanding of the responsibilities of a recognized government.
This dual approach places the Taliban in an inappropriate and indefensible position. In the diplomatic arena, they seek recognition and positive engagement with the world, but in practice, they allow groups that target the security of neighbors to operate. Pakistan’s right to legitimate self-defense against these attacks is not only justifiable from the perspective of international law but is 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 Pakistani attacks will continue.
**A Dangerous Game with Fire: India’s Presence in Afghanistan**
Another noteworthy point in the Taliban’s foreign policy is its disregard for the long-standing enmity between India and Pakistan and its facilitation of New Delhi’s influence in Afghanistan to a worrying extent. The history of India’s deep association with the racist and anti-Islamic Zionist regime and its hostility towards Pakistan should, as a rule, mean that Afghanistan does not allow India to operate freely on its soil.
Of course, one must accept reality. India, as a rising regional power, has always sought to expand its influence in Afghanistan. India’s development and economic projects in Afghanistan, including the construction of the $300 million Salma Dam, have been part of its strategy to penetrate Central Asia and undermine Pakistan’s economic encirclement. However, from Pakistan’s perspective, any Indian presence in Afghanistan constitutes a strategic threat and encirclement from the east and west.
Even if one argues that the Taliban have not practically pursued a policy of “negative balancing” but have rather engaged with India with a pragmatic and sometimes opportunistic approach, the depth of India’s influence in Afghanistan has still sounded alarm bells for Pakistan. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesman, has explicitly 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 indicates the continuation of a destabilizing strategy. The Taliban are dealing with anyone who can meet their immediate interests, regardless of the long-term consequences of these dealings 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 the history of close India-Israel ties, it creates a dangerous mix. As some analysts have pointed out, the India-Israel rapprochement and its role in regional rivalries could turn Afghanistan into an arena for confrontation between powers, none of which care about the long-term interests of the Afghan people.
Furthermore, the sharp and sometimes warning statements from Islamist groups in Afghanistan, which compare India’s actions to the role of the Jews and call it the “Israel of the region,” add to the complexity of the situation. Such rhetoric, while possibly satisfying a part of public opinion, effectively places the Taliban in a position where any engagement with India could be deemed a betrayal.
**Conclusion**
The current crisis on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is rooted in the depth of the Taliban government’s inappropriate policies. This militia group, now in the guise of a state, has failed to distance itself from its past legacy and adopt a unified and responsible behavioral pattern towards its neighbors.
Of course, rejecting Taliban policies in this article does not mean endorsing all of Pakistan’s actions towards Afghanistan, but rather emphasizes this fundamental principle: stability in Afghanistan and the region will only be possible when the country’s rulers accept that harboring terrorists, the instrumental exploitation of historical border disputes, and the unregulated involvement of external powers are lose-lose policies.
The international community and neighboring countries, especially Iran, must, with a unified approach, send a clear message to the Taliban: positive engagement and recognition are contingent upon changing behavior, adhering to the fundamental principles of international law and good neighborliness, and seriously confronting centers that support terrorism and instability. Until then, Afghanistan under Taliban rule will remain a focal point for crisis and instability, not only internally but also in the regional arena.
MNA
