RASC News Agency: Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special envoy to Afghanistan, has asserted that the Taliban are fundamentally unfamiliar with the principles of governance. In a recent interview, Durrani highlighted the presence of 12 senior leaders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, accusing the Afghanistani Taliban of refusing to cooperate in disarming them. Speaking with the analytical platform Eiraf, Durrani remarked, “The Taliban have come to power through conflict and may have succeeded in ousting the Americans. However, they remain utterly disconnected from the fundamentals of governance and statecraft.”
He further noted, “The lack of governance capacity within Afghanistan leadership is strikingly evident.” Addressing the presence of TTP operatives in Afghanistan, Durrani explained, “The TTP is not a cohesive organization but a coalition of over 24 factions. Their operations are deeply tribal, often retaliating against Pakistani border security forces when targeted.” He cited a recent attack in which 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed by TTP militants. According to Durrani, the TTP explicitly stated that the assault was in retaliation for the deaths of its members, including several key commanders, in operations conducted by the Pakistani military.
Durrani criticized the Afghanistani Taliban for their failure to curb TTP activities, stating, “During the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, the TTP supported and collaborated with the Afghanistani Taliban. As a result, the Afghanistani Taliban now regard the TTP as ‘guests.’ Given the shared cultural and tribal ties between Pashtuns on both sides of the border, it is unlikely that restrictions imposed on the TTP will yield any significant results.” He emphasized that if the Afghanistani Taliban are unwilling to extradite TTP members, they should, at a minimum, ensure their disarmament. Durrani revealed that 12 key TTP leaders are currently operating within Afghanistan and criticized the Taliban for taking no meaningful steps to prevent the group’s destabilizing activities in Pakistan.
The Taliban, however, have consistently denied the presence of TTP operatives in Afghanistan. Responding to Pakistan’s accusations, Taliban officials have countered that Islamabad should take responsibility for its own security challenges rather than shifting the blame onto Afghanistan.
