RASC News Agency: The Supreme Council of Resistance for the Salvation of Afghanistan has categorically denied reports suggesting that its leadership has engaged in discussions with Pakistan’s intelligence services. These remarks follow recent claims that a high-level Pakistani delegation traveled to Turkey to meet with prominent anti-Taliban figures. In an interview, Khalid Pashtun, the council’s spokesperson, stated that while the Resistance Council would be open to dialogue if Pakistan genuinely sought to foster peace and stability in Afghanistan, the Afghanistani people remain deeply uncertain about Islamabad’s true intentions. “To this day, our people do not know whether Pakistan is our friend or our foe,” he remarked.
Earlier, Al-Marsad, a Taliban-affiliated media outlet, reported that a senior delegation from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was scheduled to meet with former Afghanistani officials and key jihadist figures in Istanbul. Independent sources have corroborated this claim, confirming that the meeting is expected to include influential figures such as Abdul Rashid Dostum, Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Karim Khalili. According to reports, the expansion of Pakistan’s engagement with anti-Taliban factions and the potential reopening of a political office for these groups in Islamabad are among the key objectives of these discussions.
Commenting on the development, Khalid Pashtun stated: “If Pakistan intends to engage with the Resistance Council, it represents a form of political dialogue. Such interactions should not be viewed as inappropriate or condemned.” However, he also criticized Islamabad’s ambiguous policies, pointing out that while Pakistan’s government outwardly opposes the Taliban, its military advisors remain present in Kabul and Kandahar, providing strategic counsel to the regime. This contradictory stance, he emphasized, has led to widespread uncertainty, with many questioning whether Pakistan is truly a partner or merely pursuing its own geopolitical interests at Afghanistan’s expense.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have escalated in recent months, with Islamabad demanding the extradition of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. However, the Taliban has steadfastly refused to comply, further deepening the rift between the two sides.
