Reflecting on the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the late General Hamid Gul, former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), once described the event as a calculated drama with Afghanistan serving as the battleground and Pakistan as the ultimate target. This perspective remains strikingly relevant today, albeit with a new dimension: the phrase “Iran as a pretext, Pakistan as the target” has gained prominence amid escalating regional tensions. The geopolitical landscape has shifted, revealing a complex alliance involving the United States, Israel, India, and Afghanistan, all seemingly aligned against Pakistan’s interests.
This coalition’s existence was starkly highlighted in a recent address at the Israeli Knesset, where Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister and a long-standing adversary of Pakistan, openly proclaimed a symbolic relationship between India and Israel, calling India the mother and Israel the father. This declaration underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations, which now extends into Afghanistan through a special aid package aimed at supporting the Afghan Taliban. Such developments clearly indicate a coordinated effort by Hindu and Jewish powers to leverage Afghanistan as a proxy battleground against Pakistan.
Historically, Afghanistan has been used as a theater for proxy conflicts, and recent events have only reinforced this trend. India’s involvement in Afghanistan is particularly significant, as it has been actively engaged in efforts to destabilize Pakistan. Notably, February 26, 2019, marked a direct attack by India on Pakistan, and intriguingly, subsequent assaults launched via Afghanistan have coincided with this date, suggesting a deliberate pattern. India’s overarching objective remains to weaken Pakistan by any means necessary, exploiting Afghanistan’s territory to further its strategic goals.
Meanwhile, Iran faces its own set of challenges, primarily from the United States and Israel, who have targeted Tehran over its nuclear ambitions. In this intricate web of regional rivalries, Pakistan stands out as the only Muslim country possessing nuclear weapons, a fact that continues to provoke unease among its adversaries. Since Pakistan’s nuclear program was established, it has been a source of persistent tension, with both overt enemies and covert detractors uneasy about its implications. India, in particular, has vehemently opposed Pakistan’s nuclear status, a stance quietly shared by the United States, which, despite its public diplomacy, harbors intentions to curtail Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities.
To achieve this goal, destabilizing Pakistan internally has become a key strategy. Promoting lawlessness, fomenting political unrest, and encouraging internal conflicts are all part of a broader scheme aimed at undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty and nuclear deterrence. This ongoing pressure highlights the fragile nature of Pakistan’s security environment and the persistent threats it faces from multiple fronts.
Turning to Afghanistan, the relationship between the two countries is deeply rooted in shared history, culture, and Islamic ideology. Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan go beyond mere geography; they encompass centuries of intertwined civilizations and religious bonds. However, recent developments have strained this relationship. Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, representing the Islamic Emirate, faces criticism for aligning with forces that contradict the legacy of Mullah Omar, the Taliban’s founding leader who famously destroyed the Buddha statues in Bamiyan. Today, the successors of those iconoclasts appear to be collaborating with what they once opposed, engaging with foreign powers and launching attacks against Pakistan, undermining the ideological foundations upon which Pakistan was established.
Pakistan had hoped that the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 would usher in a new era of peace and stability in the region. Unfortunately, the reality has been quite the opposite. Instead of peace, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks targeting its security forces, particularly in volatile regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These attacks have severely challenged Pakistan’s internal security and disrupted efforts to maintain regional stability.
International reports further illuminate the gravity of the situation. The United Nations has highlighted the growing presence and operational capabilities of ISIS-Khorasan along the northern Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Similarly, the Russian Foreign Ministry has revealed alarming figures, estimating that Afghanistan harbors between 20,000 to 23,000 terrorists, with over half being foreign fighters. These include approximately 3,000 ISIS militants and between 5,000 to 7,000 members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Other extremist groups such as 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, turning Afghanistan into a critical hub for regional terrorism.
ISIS-Khorasan has established robust networks in eastern and northern Afghanistan, with ambitions to extend its influence into Central Asia. The January 2026 bombing at a Chinese restaurant in Kabul serves as a grim reminder of their operational reach. Additionally, the rise in synthetic drug trafficking, particularly methamphetamine, is exacerbating instability across the region, further complicating efforts to restore peace.
Russia’s concerns about Afghanistan’s security situation have also influenced its stance on recognizing the Afghan Taliban government. The ongoing instability poses a direct threat to regional peace, prompting Moscow to reassess its diplomatic approach. Meanwhile, the United States’ departure from Afghanistan left behind a significant cache of weapons, raising fears that these arms could be used against Pakistan. Reports indicate that Afghan Taliban spokesman Noor Wali Mehsud receives a monthly stipend of $43,000, alongside weekly aid amounting to $40 million. Since 2021, the US has reportedly transferred $19 billion to the Taliban, underscoring the complex and often contradictory nature of international involvement in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s historical commitment to Afghanistan is noteworthy. Despite Afghanistan’s refusal to recognize Pakistan at its inception in 1947, Pakistan extended humanitarian support by hosting six million Afghan refugees during the Soviet invasion and subsequent conflicts. This gesture was motivated by shared cultural and religious ties rather than international legal obligations, as Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. However, this generosity has not been reciprocated in kind. Afghanistan has often served as a base for anti-Pakistan terrorism, harboring militants and facilitating hostile activities orchestrated by India’s intelligence agency, RAW.
The Afghan Taliban government’s tenure since 2021 has been marked by a paradoxical stance. While Pakistan anticipated cooperation and peace, the Taliban have exhibited hostility, attacking Pakistani interests and aligning with India’s strategic objectives. Indian consulates in Kabul have reportedly functioned as centers for training operatives involved in anti-Pakistan operations, with Narendra Modi’s influence permeating Afghan political and military spheres. This undermines Pakistan’s efforts to foster regional harmony and highlights the persistent challenges in bilateral relations.
Despite these adversities, Pakistan’s military has demonstrated resilience and strategic acumen. Operations such as ‘Bunyān Marṣūs’ have successfully targeted critical Indian installations without incurring losses, showcasing Pakistan’s defensive capabilities. Similarly, ‘Ghazab-lil-Haq’ dismantled numerous Afghan Taliban strongholds, destroying 27 posts, capturing 9, and neutralizing key headquarters and military assets, including over 80 tanks, artillery pieces, and armored personnel carriers. These military successes underscore Pakistan’s determination to counter hostile forces and protect its sovereignty.
In conclusion, the multifaceted threats facing Pakistan—from proxy wars and regional alliances to terrorism and political instability—paint a complex picture of its security environment. Yet, Pakistan’s armed forces continue to stand as a formidable barrier against these challenges, thwarting conspiracies and maintaining national integrity. The evolving dynamics in the region demand vigilant and strategic responses to safeguard Pakistan’s future.
