KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former envoy for Afghanistan, has called on the Taliban to decide whether to side with Pakistan or the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In an article on December 30, Durani urged the Taliban to clarify their stance on TTP attacks against Pakistan, warning that strained ties with Islamabad could have severe consequences. He stressed that the Taliban are now a government, not insurgents, and must act responsibly toward their neighbors.
Durani highlighted that tackling the TTP should be simpler for the Taliban than dealing with other terrorist groups but noted that Pashtunwali traditions and internal Taliban politics complicate matters.
He also questioned the Haqqani Network’s role, accusing it of harboring TTP leaders in areas like Paktika and Khost while maintaining ties with Pakistan.
He criticized the Taliban for denying the presence of groups like TTP and ISIS in Afghanistan, calling their arrogance counterproductive. Attacks in the region have surged since the Taliban’s return to power.
Durani addressed a recent Pakistani airstrike on a TTP facility in Paktika that killed 47, following a TTP attack that left 16 Pakistani soldiers dead. While the Taliban claimed civilian casualties, Durani maintained the site was a TTP stronghold.
The airstrike coincided with a visit to Kabul by Pakistan’s envoy, Muhammad Sadiq, to discuss border security. Tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan have escalated over the TTP’s presence, with Islamabad demanding action and the Taliban denying its operations from Afghan soil.
