Afghanistan International: Before returning to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban signed an agreement with the Pakistani Taliban, al-Qaeda and other foreign fighters. According to the agreement, the Taliban pledged to support foreign fighters in “jihad” and the establishment of a Sharia system in Pakistan after their victory. A source close to the Pakistani Taliban told
Michael Hughes: Islamabad appears to be laying the groundwork for regional partnerships to strangle Afghanistan from all sides as tensions escalate with the Taliban over cross-border attacks resulting in decade-high deaths of Pakistani troops. However, although Pakistan has found a willing ally in Tajikistan, it will be harder to secure cooperation from other actors in
Khaama: International media has reported that the relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan has significantly weakened due to the intensifying insecurity in the region. Pakistan is now acknowledging that its initial support for the Taliban was a critical strategic misstep. Click here to read more (external link). Related Pakistani police claim 35 percent of militants
Amu: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, sharply criticized the country’s previous leadership on Thursday, alleging that hasty and informal decisions facilitated the return of thousands of members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) into the country..Speaking during a briefing, Mr. Dar attributed the re-entry of 35,000 to 40,000 TTP fighters to poorly
By Abubakar Siddique Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty December 30, 2024 The latest Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan have rekindled tensions between Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and Islamabad, who were once former allies. While Pakistan has said it was targeting militant hideouts, Taliban officials said the December 24 attacks killed some 50 civilians. The Afghan Defense Ministry vowed that
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi and RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal December 28, 2024 Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government said Taliban forces targeted what it claimed were “centers and hideouts for malicious elements” it said were involved in a recent attack in Afghanistan, as an upsurge of cross-border fighting continues. The statement from the Taliban’s Defense Ministry followed reports of deadly
Afghanistan International: Three days after Pakistan’s airstrikes on Paktika, the country’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the Taliban administration to adopt a decisive policy against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Taliban must take a clear stance against the TTP, he said, stressing that Pakistan will not tolerate double standards. Click here to read more
Afghanistan International: In response to Pakistan’s airstrikes on Paktika, Taliban’s intelligence agency spokesman Jawad Sargar said that Punjab has been separated from other parts of Pakistan and now the possibility of Pakistan’s disintegration is stronger than ever. Sargar said that the Pakistani army has no incentive to fight and that the Taliban should seize the
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal December 25, 2024 Pakistani air strikes killed 46 civilians in eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban-led government in Kabul said on December 25, while Islamabad claimed it targeted suspected militant hideouts in border areas. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told RFE/RL that there were many women and children among the victims of the December 24
Ayaz Gul VOA News December 24, 2024 Islamabad — Taliban leaders in Afghanistan hosted meetings Tuesday with a high-level delegation from neighboring Pakistan, marking the resumption of such interactions after a year-long pause due to terrorism allegations. Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s newly appointed special envoy for Afghan affairs, led his country’s team at the talks in Kabul