According to Iraf, Asif Drani, former Special Representative of Pakistan for Afghan Affairs, stated in recent remarks that Islamabad “maintains contact with all currents and factions of Afghanistan,” a position effectively acknowledging communication with the Taliban’s opposition.
Despite this acknowledgment, he asserted that these contacts “have no malicious intent against the Taliban” and that Pakistan neither seeks to replace the current Kabul government nor intends to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. Drani also criticized the Taliban’s performance, saying the group continues to “act with the mindset of an insurgent faction” and remains far from being a responsible government. He stressed that “it is better for Afghans to determine their own destiny.”
It is worth noting that after Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of Afghanistan’s Islamic Unity Party, declared that the Durand Line is recognized as Afghanistan and Pakistan’s official border, a wave of reactions emerged in Afghanistan’s political sphere. For some figures, this position was seen as a sign of Pakistan’s growing role in engaging with Taliban opponents, leading to analyses suggesting that Islamabad may be “redefining relations” with anti-Taliban factions.
Nabil: This Stance Smells of a Deal
In this context, Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of Afghanistan’s National Security, responded to Mohaqiq’s remarks. He described the stance as a “questionable political shift with the scent of a deal” and noted that its timing “resembles a secret agreement with Pakistan.”
Mohaqiq’s Strong Response: Secret Deals Are the Work of Intelligence Agents
Mohammad Mohaqiq, responding to these allegations, issued a clear statement emphasizing that “no political faction has the right to decide Afghanistan’s future alone” and that the era of unilateral decision-making “is over.” He rejected the accusation of “making deals with Pakistan” and, in a sharp and ironic response to Nabil, said: “Secret deals are the work of intelligence elements, not political factions that operate openly.”
Mohaqiq explained that the contacts conducted by his faction within the framework of the Supreme National Resistance Council “are political and public in nature” and that no secret agreements exist. He also noted that considerations involving Iran and Turkey in certain political trips are solely to prevent harm to the dialogue processes.
