In a striking escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused Afghanistan’s Taliban regime of siding with India in what he described as a “proxy confrontation” against Pakistan. His remarks, delivered to local media outlets, underscore a growing rift between Islamabad and Kabul, one that is reopening old wounds and reshaping power alignments in the region.
From Strategic Allies to Rivals
Pakistan was once among the few states that openly backed the Taliban during their rise in the 1990s and played a critical role in facilitating their return to Kabul in 2021. But relations have rapidly soured. Instead of strategic depth, Islamabad now sees strategic betrayal.
According to Asif, Afghan authorities are allowing anti-Pakistan militants, particularly factions linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate freely along the border. He went a step further, claiming these activities indirectly serve Indian interests, implying that Kabul has aligned its posture against Pakistan.
“The Afghan government may not admit it, but their toleration of these elements benefits India more than anyone,” Asif suggested.
The TTP Question: Pakistan’s Core Concern
At the heart of this dispute lies the TTP, responsible for hundreds of attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad insists Kabul must crack down on these fighters, who allegedly regrouped on Afghan soil after the Taliban takeover. For Pakistan, this is a red line. For Kabul, it is an internal tribal matter.
Despite Pakistani efforts to initiate backchannel negotiations, no ceasefire or confidence-building measure has held. Asif’s latest comments indicate Pakistan’s patience is wearing thin, and that India is now being used as a rhetorical pivot to signal a red alert.
India’s Quiet Engagement with Taliban
India, for its part, has no formal diplomatic ties with the Taliban but maintains a calibrated humanitarian presence in Kabul. Indian development projects, dams, roads, hospitals, dating back to the Karzai and Ghani eras continue to hold influence among Afghan civilians. Islamabad views this “soft power footprint” with deep suspicion.
While New Delhi has not responded to Asif’s claims, Indian observers insist that Pakistan is externalising its own internal security failures.
Durand Line Disputes and Tribal Loyalties
Beyond militant movements, the Durand Line, the historic border dividing Pashtun tribes, remains a flashpoint. The Taliban has refused to recognise it formally, often clashing with Pakistani forces over fencing efforts. Pashtun solidarity frequently trumps diplomatic agreements, giving sanctuary politics a tribal, rather than geopolitical, explanation.
But in Islamabad’s current narrative, this defiance is being recast as Indian design.
A Triangle of Distrust
- Pakistan fears a two-front challenge: an emboldened TTP and an India-friendly Kabul.
- Taliban Afghanistan insists on sovereignty and denies hosting anti-Pakistan elements.
- India remains silent but benefits geopolitically from Pakistan’s shifting regional isolation.
A Ceasefire No One Believes In
Talks of ceasefire or tactical détente between Islamabad and Kabul often surface but collapse before they begin. With Muhammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s former envoy to Kabul, once calling the relationship “an emotional rollercoaster,” Asif’s statement signals that rollercoaster may now be veering into open confrontation.
Khawaja Asif’s accusation is not just rhetoric. It reflects a deeper Pakistani fear, losing leverage in Kabul for the first time in 30 years. If Afghanistan continues to rebuff Pakistan while cautiously engaging India, the strategic map of South Asia could shift in fundamental ways.
