RASC News Agency: Former Pakistani Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, has urged the Taliban to take a definitive stance on the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), clarifying whether they condone the group’s attacks on Pakistan or oppose them. He further called on the Taliban to decide whether their allegiance lies with the TTP or Pakistan. In an article published on Monday, December 31, Durrani emphasized the need for the Taliban to acknowledge the realities of international relations and fulfill their obligations as a governing entity. He pointed out that the Pashtunwali tradition, deeply embedded in the Taliban’s ethos, inhibits them from taking decisive action against the TTP.
“The Afghanistani Taliban must comprehend the repercussions of strained ties with Pakistan. They are no longer insurgents but a governing body with immense responsibilities to their citizens and the global community, particularly their neighbors. No neighboring nation will permit its territory to be used as a base for aggression against it,” Durrani wrote. He argued that addressing the TTP’s activities should, in theory, be more straightforward for the Taliban than confronting other militant groups. However, internal power struggles and the adherence to Pashtunwali a traditional Pashtun code of conduct continue to obstruct any peaceful resolution to the TTP’s operations within Afghanistan borders.
Durrani noted that, despite the Taliban’s supreme leader declaring acts of war against Pakistan as “Haram” (forbidden), their cultural commitment to Pashtunwali prevents them from extraditing TTP leaders or taking robust measures against the group. The article further highlighted the alignment of the TTP with the Haqqani Network, a powerful faction within the Taliban, as opposed to the Kandahar-based leadership under Hibatullah Akhundzada. “TTP leaders find refuge in areas under the control of the Haqqanis, particularly in Paktika and Khost provinces. Paradoxically, the Haqqanis are perceived as allies of Pakistan, maintaining close ties with Pakistani officials. The Haqqani family’s commercial interests are deeply rooted in the Waziristan region.
This poses a significant concern for Pakistan’s leadership, as the TTP exploits Haqqani-controlled areas as operational bases for attacks on Pakistan,” Durrani explained. He concluded by reiterating his previous appeal for the Taliban to make a definitive choice between Pakistan and the TTP, warning that continued ambiguity in their stance would further deteriorate relations with Pakistan and exacerbate regional tensions.
