Pakistan Plays the Victim Card, Seeks Global Support Against the Taliban
Islamabad / Kabul: Pakistan is intensifying efforts to rally international support against the Afghan Taliban, reshaping its diplomatic messaging to portray Kabul as a harbourer of militants threatening regional stability, according to analysts tracking the evolving geopolitical dynamic.
For decades, Pakistan’s intelligence establishment virtually midwifed the rise of the Taliban — offering ideological space, logistical routes and covert backing. But after the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021, relations shifted dramatically. Instead of coordinating with Pakistan, Taliban authorities have tolerated the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — a deadly insurgent group responsible for multiple attacks inside Pakistani territory.
Security analysts say this reversal has prompted Islamabad to aggressively recast itself before the global stage as a frontline state combating terrorism — and no longer as the Taliban’s benefactor.
Diplomatically, Pakistan has engaged regional capitals and global powers with a narrative that positions TTP as a transnational security threat — one that undermines peace not just for Pakistan, but the wider region. The strategy is intended to pressure the Taliban into curbing TTP’s presence on Afghan soil, while strengthening Islamabad’s case for coordinated international action.
Militarily, Pakistan has demonstrated willingness to strike deep inside Afghanistan. A series of targeted airstrikes since late 2024 — reportedly hitting militant training sites in eastern provinces — reflect Pakistan’s attempt to signal that it will act unilaterally if Kabul refuses compliance.
The Taliban, however, has pushed back — insisting that Afghan soil is sovereign territory and foreign strikes violate international law. Cracking down on TTP also risks alienating Taliban factions sympathetic to the group.
Experts warn the growing rift could reshape the region: “Pakistan and the Taliban are no longer partners — they are rivals navigating a new era of mistrust,” noted one South Asia security observer.
For New Delhi, Washington, Beijing and Moscow, the conflict opens both strategic opportunities and risks — from curbing extremist networks to triggering wider instability along the Afghan-Pakistan frontier.
As of now, Pakistan remains determined to isolate the Taliban diplomatically, while keeping military pressure on the border. The Taliban, equally determined, resists external dictates and asserts Afghan independence. With neither side backing down, the standoff threatens to deepen — with implications extending far beyond the region.
