Pakistan fears India’s growing influence in Afghanistan amid Taliban tensions
Al Jazeera reported that a recent meeting in Dubai between India’s Deputy Foreign Minister and the Taliban’s Foreign Minister signals a significant shift in New Delhi’s stance toward the group. India, once viewed as a Taliban adversary, is now engaging in serious diplomatic discussions.
The talks highlighted the strategic importance of Iran’s Chabahar Port, which offers Afghanistan, under Taliban control, a route for trade and goods transport independent of Pakistan. This development underscores India’s growing influence in the region.
This growing cooperation between Kabul and New Delhi has raised alarms in Islamabad. Pakistan fears that India’s influence in Afghanistan could complicate its already strained relations with the Taliban.
Despite concerns, Pakistani analysts believe Islamabad should not overreact. Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative to Afghanistan, stated that the depth of Pakistan-Afghanistan ties surpasses India-Afghanistan relations unless they directly harm Pakistan’s interests.
Maliha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former UN ambassador, emphasized that Afghanistan’s geography remains unchanged, and the country still depends on Pakistan for trade routes. However, India’s investments in alternatives like Chabahar may gradually lessen this dependence.
The report also noted Pakistan’s internal and border challenges. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ideologically linked to the Afghan Taliban, carried out over 600 attacks in Pakistan last year, resulting in approximately 1,600 deaths, including 700 security personnel.
Pakistan recently conducted airstrikes in Paktia province, targeting alleged TTP hideouts. Islamabad accused the Taliban of harboring TTP militants who orchestrate attacks on Pakistani soil. These strikes indicate a significant escalation in tensions between the two neighbors.
The Taliban has denied accusations of supporting the TTP, claiming that Afghanistan’s territory is not being used to launch attacks on Pakistan. This denial has done little to ease Islamabad’s concerns about the security threats emanating from across the border.
The increasing frequency of border clashes and verbal disputes reflects the fragile state of Pakistan-Taliban relations. The evolving regional dynamics, including India’s growing role in Afghanistan, are likely to add further strain to an already volatile relationship.
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