Former Pakistani Official Warns Taliban Sheltering Armed Groups Could Destabilize Region
Asif Durrani, former Pakistani special representative for Afghanistan, has warned that the Taliban’s continued sheltering of armed groups could return the region to conditions reminiscent of the period before the September 11 attacks. He stated that if this situation persists, security threats will extend beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
On Saturday, July 1, Durrani wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) page that despite the Taliban’s limited international legitimacy, they continue to permit groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Baloch Liberation Army, and the Islamic State Khorasan Province to operate. According to him, this approach could seriously undermine regional security stability.
The former Pakistani diplomat also claimed that India financially supports Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and the Baloch Liberation Army, while the Taliban provide these groups with safe havens. These allegations come amid rising security tensions among regional countries in recent years.
He warned that if these policies continue, both the Taliban regime and India’s leadership in New Delhi will face serious consequences. Durrani emphasized that past experiences show supporting armed groups ultimately threatens the security of their patrons as well.
So far, the Taliban administration has not officially responded to these remarks but has repeatedly denied the presence and activity of foreign armed groups within Afghanistan’s territory. Nevertheless, concerns about the use of Afghan soil for cross-border militant activities remain a central issue in regional security discussions.
