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Opinion | Badly needed peace or more terrorism: how the Afghan Taliban will shape Pakistan’s future
- If the Afghan Taliban makes good on its pledge to not allow anyone to use Afghanistan as a base for attacks against other countries, peace could emerge in Pakistan
- If it backtracks and supports Islamist militancy, though, that could represent an existential threat to the government in Islamabad
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The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15 when president Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The fighters’ offensive started with the capture of provincial capitals on August 6 and, in less than 10 days, the group had taken over the entire country.
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The situation in Afghanistan has captured the world’s attention, but the biggest impact may well be felt in Pakistan. Indeed, there are two potential paths that will determine how a Taliban government in Afghanistan affects its eastern neighbour.
The first revolves around Pakistan’s influence on the Taliban. The fact that its embassy is one of the few diplomatic missions still operational in Kabul, along with the Chinese and Russian embassies, reveals much about its sway.
Pakistan has been accused of actively supporting the Taliban over the past two decades, although Islamabad denies the claims. However, there is no doubting its influence.
In this context, Islamabad will look to prevent anti-Pakistan militants – in particular the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Baloch separatists – from using Afghan soil to mount attacks.
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Taliban takes control of Afghan capital Kabul as President Ghani flees country
Taliban takes control of Afghan capital Kabul as President Ghani flees country
Islamabad claims both groups have found a safe haven in Afghanistan to mount operations in Pakistan. With a new Afghan government in the making, Pakistan wants the Taliban to root out these militant groups.
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