Former Pakistani Envoy Warns of Dangerous Tensions with Taliban Amid Rising Attacks
Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative for Afghanistan, has warned that escalating clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban administration have pushed bilateral relations into a “dangerous” phase. He emphasized that the activities of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating under the protective umbrella of the Afghan Taliban, are expanding, raising serious security concerns in Islamabad.
On Friday, February 26, Durrani announced that Pakistan’s repeated protests and official appeals to Kabul have so far not been met with concrete and practical action by the Taliban administration. According to him, this lack of response has strengthened the perception in Pakistan that the Taliban are aligned with the anti-Pakistan agenda of the TTP.
He also noted that recent attacks on Pakistan’s border posts have undermined efforts to ease tensions that had begun through mediation by some friendly countries. Durrani believes that continuing on this path could further limit diplomatic opportunities for de-escalation.
The former Pakistani envoy further pointed to the Taliban’s growing interactions with India, which have increased Islamabad’s strategic concerns. He recalled previous allegations accusing India of supporting groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army.
While the Taliban administration has consistently denied accusations of supporting anti-Pakistan armed groups, critics argue that the absence of transparent and effective measures to control these factions has left relations between the two neighbors fragile and increased the risk of further instability in the region.
