Pakistani Democratic Leader Says Islamabad Can Control Both Pakistani and Afghan Taliban If It Chooses
Mohsin Dawar, head of Pakistan’s National Democratic Movement, has described the Taliban’s policy towards Pakistan as “deceptive and dangerous,” stating that the group pretends to fight against the Pakistani military, a claim he says does not align with reality.
In an interview with Afghanistan International, Dawar emphasized that if the Pakistani government has the will, it can control both the Pakistani Taliban and the Afghan Taliban. He pointed out that camps, centers, and assets related to the Taliban still exist within Pakistan’s territory, and Islamabad is capable of controlling the group’s activities if it makes a political decision.
Dawar described the Taliban as a “proxy group” lacking independent thought and political autonomy. He added that Islamabad’s policies towards Afghanistan have always been detrimental to the Afghan people, resulting in expanded instability and damage to Afghanistan’s national structures.
The Pakistani politician further asserted that the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan is not the result of the group’s independent capability, but rather the outcome of political compromises, shifts in U.S. strategy, and Pakistan’s support. He believes that the narrative of the Taliban defeating a superpower does not correspond with the realities on the ground.
He concluded with a warning that the continuation of such policies could pave the way for ongoing conflict and violence in the region, which disproportionately harms the Afghan people. These remarks come amid the Taliban administration’s consistent insistence on its decision-making independence, while internal and regional critics continue to highlight the role of external actors in the group’s rise to power.
