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Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has pointed fingers at the former chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General (retd) Faiz Hameed, for the recent border clashes with Afghanistan. Dar stated that Hameed’s 2021 visit to Kabul, particularly a widely circulated photo of him sharing tea with Taliban leaders shortly after their takeover, proved to be a costly misstep for Pakistan. Speaking during a Senate session, Dar described the visit as a significant mistake that should not be repeated, implying it contributed to the current strained relations and escalating security concerns.
Dar’s remarks suggest that the aftermath of the Taliban’s return to power has exacerbated Pakistan’s security challenges. He alleged that militant organizations, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Fitna al-Khawarij, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), are now operating freely from Afghan territory. This comes after a period of heightened tensions, including Pakistani airstrikes on alleged TTP hideouts in Kabul, which resulted in civilian casualties and retaliatory actions by the Taliban along the Durand Line. The Taliban, however, maintain that Afghan soil is not being utilized by any terror group to threaten other nations. Peace talks, facilitated by Qatar and Türkiye, are ongoing, with further discussions scheduled in Istanbul aimed at de-escalating the conflict and establishing a ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
