Certainly:
“It appears the creature is prepared to turn against its benefactor. Once supported by Islamabad, the Afghan Taliban now pose a threat to Pakistan’s territorial integrity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai has issued a warning reminiscent of the 1971 Partition that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
It’s intriguing how the Afghan Taliban have lashed out at Pakistan, a nation that sheltered their leaders, financed their insurgency, and provided personnel for their military operations.”
Taliban minister Stanikzai’s cautionary statement coincided with Pakistan’s expulsion of Afghans from its territory back into Afghanistan. He asserted that the Pashtuns, residing on both sides of the international boundary, have never accepted the Durand Line, which delineates the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Stanikzai stated during a public gathering on February 16, as reported by Tolo News:
Furthermore, Stanikzai highlighted the harsh treatment of refugees by Pakistan, alleging that they are being forcibly repatriated to Afghanistan. According to The Balochistan Post, Stanikzai cautioned that such actions could potentially lead to events reminiscent of the 1971 separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
In 2023, Pakistan initiated a crackdown on Afghan refugees, issuing a mandate for all undocumented migrants to depart the country by November 1st. This decree cast a shadow of uncertainty and fear over the future of approximately 1.7 million Afghans residing in Pakistan.
Warnings of Impending Backlash as Past Alliances Haunt Pakistan:
The repercussions of ‘Project Taliban‘ are now haunting Pakistan, exacerbating its already substantial challenges.
Sushant Sareen, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, during an interview on India Today TV remarked:
“Regardless of whether they expel Afghans or not, Pakistan is inevitably facing escalating troubles.“
He criticized the military’s past alignment with the Taliban, describing it as a misguided romance that has precipitated a situation now poised to backfire.
Speaking on the recent Taliban warnings, Sareen noted that while it may not manifest as a direct territorial dispute akin to 1970, the internal fracturing of a nation poses its own existential threat.
Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, vehemently rejected the Taliban’s stance on the Durand Line. Affirming that for Pakistan, the issue is unequivocally settled. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also denounced the Taliban’s refusal to recognize the Durand Line as “selfish and baseless,” as reported by Khaama.com.
Taliban’s Confrontation with a Vulnerable Pakistan:
In 2023, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) orchestrated bombings and gun attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 1,000 Pakistanis. Along with half of the casualties being security personnel, as reported by Voice of America in January of this year. The TTP seized control of multiple villages in Chitral, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, and targeted military convoys.
According to the Voice of America report:
The TTP relocated its bases from Pakistan to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s assumption of power in the war-torn country after the US withdrawal in 2019. There is speculation that the Taliban may be capitalizing on Pakistan’s vulnerabilities.
Pakistan’s economy is in shambles, and its military, which wields considerable influence. It is facing widespread public discontent, leading to societal divisions.
Sushant Sareen, a current affairs analyst, remarked:
“The truth is that Pakistan is currently at its weakest since its inception. Even in 1971, it was still relatively robust despite internal political challenges, whereas now its economy is teetering.”
Similarly, Arzoo Kazmi, a Pakistan-based current affairs analyst, suggests that Afghanistan is deriding Pakistan’s current state.
Internal Strife and External Ridicule: Pakistan’s Troubles Mount:
Arzoo Kazmi expressed on India Today TV:
“Pakistan is facing this crisis, and nobody is feeling ashamed of themselves, everybody is laughing. Even Afghanistan. Afghanistan is so weak. Afghanistan is making fun of us right now. But we are not feeling any kind of embarrassment.”
Kazmi also remarked:
“Wherever there is Tehrik, Tehrik-e-Insaf, Tehrik-e-Labbaik, Tehrik-e-Taliban, all these are made by our Deep State (establishment).”
The mention of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has emerged as a nightmare for Pakistan, is undeniable. The Taliban, once nurtured by Pakistan, has transformed into a menacing force, ready to retaliate against its former benefactor by biting off the very hand that once fed it.
