Mohsin Dawar: Taliban Have Not Yet Broken Free from the Influence of Pakistan’s Military.
Despite recent tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, Mohsin Dawar maintains that the disagreements are more apparent and tactical than substantive.
He claims that the Taliban’s structure remains influenced by Pakistan’s military establishment and that major decisions by the group continue to be made under the shadow of Islamabad’s security calculations.
According to him, what is portrayed as political tension has not altered the fundamental nature of the Taliban’s dependence.
Referring to the history of relations between the two sides, Dawar noted that Pakistan’s support for the Taliban was frequently raised during the republican era.
Following the collapse of the previous government and the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021, the visit of the then head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to Afghanistan and his widely publicized meeting with Taliban leaders at Kabul’s Serena Hotel was viewed by many observers as clear evidence of Islamabad’s direct role in Afghanistan’s political developments.
The Pakistani politician believes that the Taliban’s conduct and policy positions continue to be defined within the framework of Pakistan Army’s strategic interests.
He further asserts that the group’s political and security behavior could be calibrated in ways that create grounds for increased pressure — or even potential military action — by Pakistan against Afghanistan, a claim that once again highlights debate over the true nature of relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
