Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Former envoy Asif Durrani warned that India’s deepening engagement with Kabul could undermine Pakistan’s security interests and threaten Afghanistan’s political stability.
Former Pakistani envoy for Afghanistan Asif Durrani has cautioned that India’s growing engagement with the Taliban could open a new front of strategic pressure on Pakistan, warning Kabul that such overtures risk undermining the group’s long-term political survival.
In a post on X on Monday, Durrani said the Taliban were “endangering themselves” by permitting New Delhi to deepen its presence in Kabul. He urged the group to “avoid a path of political suicide”, arguing that India’s outreach was aimed at expanding influence across the region at Pakistan’s expense.
His remarks come at a time of heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, marked by cross-border clashes, trade disruptions and diplomatic strains. Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of leveraging Afghanistan territory to destabilise its western frontier, a charge New Delhi dismisses as unfounded.
Observers say Durrani’s intervention reflects growing unease in Islamabad as the Kabul diversify their external ties, increasingly moving beyond Pakistan’s traditional sphere of influence. Analysts believe the recalibration is partly driven by the Taliban’s economic pressures and their quest for broader international legitimacy.
In recent weeks, diplomatic and commercial engagement between the Taliban administration and India has accelerated. New Delhi has highlighted trade facilitation, humanitarian assistance and regional connectivity as priority areas of cooperation. Within the past month, two senior Taliban officials; Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi, visited India for high-level talks, signalling a notable shift after years of minimal contact.
Regional experts note that India appears keen to restore some of the strategic influence it lost after the collapse of the former Afghanistan republic in 2021. The Taliban, meanwhile, may be seeking new partners to offset their isolation, though such moves carry risks that could further complicate relations with Pakistan.
Durrani’s comments underscore the intensifying geopolitical contest around Afghanistan, with Islamabad warning that unchecked realignments could heighten insecurity in an already fragile region. Analysts caution that the Taliban will have to navigate these emerging rivalries carefully as major regional actors jostle for strategic space.