8am: Relations between Afghanistan’s Taliban and Pakistan, once described as those of “longstanding friends,” have entered a turbulent phase since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in August 2021. Pakistan, once a key sponsor of the Taliban, now faces a growing threat from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This militant group uses Afghan soil to stage deadly attacks on Pakistani security forces. Despite diplomatic efforts from repeated visits by Pakistani officials to Kabul to Islamabad’s formal complaints at the United Nations, no progress has been made in curbing the TTP. Yet in August 2025, a sudden spike in TTP casualties coincided with the postponement of an anti-Taliban opposition gathering in Islamabad, raising a pressing question: Has a covert arrangement emerged between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)? Click here to read more (external link).