Reflecting on the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the late General Hamid Gul, former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), famously described the situation as “Afghanistan serving as the base and Pakistan as the target.” This perspective remains profoundly relevant today, albeit with a new dimension: “Iran as a pretext, Pakistan as the target.” The evolving geopolitical landscape has revealed a complex alliance involving the United States, Israel, India, and Afghanistan, all seemingly aligned against Pakistan’s interests. This coalition’s intentions were starkly exposed during a recent speech in the Israeli Knesset, where India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a long-standing adversary of Pakistan, openly declared India as the “mother” and Israel as the “father” in their strategic partnership.
This declaration underscores the emerging collaboration between Hindu and Jewish political forces, particularly in their support for the Afghan Taliban. The announcement of a special aid package for the Taliban is a clear indication that these powers are leveraging Afghanistan as a proxy battleground to undermine Pakistan. Historically, Afghanistan has been used as a platform for proxy conflicts, and this trend continues with India’s active involvement. Notably, the date February 26, 2019, marks a significant attack launched by India against Pakistan, and intriguingly, another assault was orchestrated through Afghanistan on the same date, reinforcing the notion of coordinated efforts to destabilize Pakistan.
India’s strategic objective appears to be the weakening of Pakistan at all costs, using Afghanistan as a conduit for its ambitions. Meanwhile, Iran faces mounting pressure and attacks from both the United States and Israel, further complicating the regional security matrix. The phrase “Iran as a pretext, Pakistan as the target” encapsulates this dual-front challenge. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities is a contentious issue, but Pakistan remains the only Muslim-majority nuclear power, which continues to provoke hostility from its adversaries. Since Pakistan’s nuclear program was established, it has been a source of anxiety not only for overt enemies like India but also for countries that maintain a façade of friendship, including the United States, which quietly opposes Pakistan’s nuclear status.
Efforts to undermine Pakistan’s nuclear sovereignty are multifaceted, involving internal destabilization through fomenting lawlessness, political turmoil, and insurgency. These tactics form part of a broader strategy aimed at de-nuclearizing Pakistan by weakening its internal cohesion. In this context, it is important to remind the Afghan people of the deep historical, cultural, and religious bonds that connect the two nations. Pakistan and Afghanistan share centuries of intertwined history, civilizational heritage, and Islamic ideology, which should ideally foster mutual respect and cooperation rather than hostility.
However, the current Afghan leadership, represented by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and the Islamic Emirate, seems to have diverged from this path. It is ironic that the successors of Mullah Omar, who infamously destroyed the Buddha statues in Bamiyan, are now aligning themselves with what they term “infidels and polytheists.” This ideological shift has led to attacks on Pakistan, a country founded on the principle of “there is no god but Allah,” at the behest of Hindu capitalist interests. Pakistan had hoped that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to power would usher in an era of peace and stability. Instead, the country has endured increased violence, particularly in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces have been targeted relentlessly.
International organizations, including the United Nations and the Russian Foreign Ministry, have raised alarms about the deteriorating security situation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The UN has highlighted the growing presence and capabilities of ISIS-Khorasan, a terrorist faction operating near northern Afghanistan. Russia’s assessment is even more concerning, estimating that Afghanistan harbors between 20,000 and 23,000 terrorists, with over half being foreign fighters. Among these are approximately 3,000 ISIS militants and 5,000 to 7,000 members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Additionally, groups like Al-Qaeda and the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) maintain training camps across several Afghan provinces, including Ghazni, Laghman, Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Parwan, and Uruzgan, making Afghanistan a critical hub for regional terrorism.
ISIS-Khorasan has established significant networks in eastern and northern Afghanistan, with ambitions to expand its influence into Central Asia. The January 2026 bombing at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul is a stark reminder of their operational presence. Alongside terrorism, the smuggling of synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, is on the rise, further destabilizing the region and complicating efforts to restore peace. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has emphasized that the ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan directly threatens regional stability and has cast doubt on Moscow’s willingness to formally recognize the Taliban government.
Complicating matters further, the United States left behind a substantial cache of weapons in Kabul, which could potentially be used against Pakistan. Reports indicate that Taliban spokesman Noor Wali Mehsud receives a monthly stipend of $43,000, while the Taliban as a whole benefits from $40 million in weekly aid. Since 2021, the US has reportedly funneled $19 billion to the Taliban regime, raising questions about the true nature of American involvement in the region.
Historically, Pakistan has stood by Afghanistan even when the international community turned its back. Despite Afghanistan’s refusal to recognize Pakistan’s sovereignty after its creation in 1947, Pakistan extended humanitarian support by hosting six million Afghan refugees during the Soviet invasion and the Taliban’s earlier rule. This support was offered without demanding adherence to international refugee conventions, reflecting Pakistan’s commitment to fraternal and neighborly ties. Unfortunately, Afghanistan has often repaid this generosity with hostility, providing safe havens for terrorists, facilitating anti-Pakistan conspiracies orchestrated by India, and allowing hate speech against Pakistan to flourish.
The current Taliban government has epitomized the adage that “the ungrateful first target their benefactor.” Instead of fostering peace, it has contributed to regional instability by supporting India’s anti-Pakistan agenda. Indian consulates in Kabul have notoriously served as training grounds for operatives of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), further undermining Pakistan’s security. Narendra Modi’s influence over Afghan leadership, military, and intelligence agencies has consistently worked against Pakistan’s interests, leaving little room for goodwill.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, their stance has been marked by hostility towards Pakistan, attacking fellow Muslims while forming alliances with non-Muslim actors. It is imperative for the Taliban to acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices for regional peace and resist becoming pawns in India’s strategic designs. Pakistan’s military has demonstrated resilience and strength in the face of these challenges. Operations such as ‘Bunyān Marṣūs’ successfully targeted critical Indian strategic assets without incurring losses, while ‘Ghazab-lil-Haq’ dismantled numerous Taliban strongholds, destroying 27 posts, capturing 9, and eliminating key headquarters and military equipment.
Despite the multifaceted plots against it, Pakistan’s armed forces have stood firm, thwarting attempts by hostile alliances to destabilize the country. The resilience of Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies continues to be a formidable barrier against these adversarial forces, causing their schemes to falter. As these hostile coalitions crumble under pressure, Pakistan remains vigilant, committed to safeguarding its sovereignty and regional stability amid an increasingly complex and volatile geopolitical environment.
