THE TALIBAN GENESIS IN AFGHANISTAN: - A PAKISTAN PRODIGY

--THE TROUBLSOME TROIKA

PARIDHI BILLORE

CONTENTS

1. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
2. PREFACE
3. A BLOODY HISTORY
4. FATA AND TRIBES OF JEHAD
5. PAKISTAN’S MEDDLING SYNDROME
6. WHOSE ISLAM: TALIBAN OR AL-QAEDA?
7. A WAR FOR JIHAD
8. PATRONS OF TERROR
9. OPIUM OPERATIONS
10. TALIBAN 2.0 FICTIONAL OR REALITY
11. PEACE FROM THE BARREL

ABBREVIATIONS
ANP AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE

ANA AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY

BNP BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY

FAA FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT

FATA FEDERALLY ADMINISTERED TRIBAL AREAS

FBI FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

HUJI HARKAT UL JIHAD AL ISLAMI

HuM HARKAT UL MUJAHIDEEN

IED IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

ISC INTERNATIONAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE

ISI INTER SERVICE INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE

JeM JAISH -E- MOHAMMAD

LeT LASHKAR-E-TOIBA

NATO NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION

NCO NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER

NWFP NORTH WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE

PAF PAKISTAN AIR FORCE

PCF PAKISTAN COUNTERINSURGENCY FUND

SEALs SEA, AIR AND LAND TEAMS

TTP TEHRIK E TALIBAN PAKISTAN

USAID UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT
PREFACE:

“Afghanistan is the Graveyard of Empires” - This phrase seems to make sense now after seeing the
shocking exit of U.S troops 20 Years after Soviet Russia. The Taliban, who had miraculously survived
despite the international sanctions and banning of financial aids, came over and quickly took control
over Kabul. After the hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops from the soils of Afghanistan, it was seemingly
a carnage left loose. Tehreek -e-Taliban recruits who are UN-designated terrorists were seen
wielding Russian Kalashnikovs and the U.S. made assault rifles in their hands, proudly claiming their
victory post the monstrous ordeal that they had unleashed. These chapters examine the
consequences of a hasty American exit from Afghanistan leaving the people in betrayal to the mercy
of Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The “Tehreek-e-Taliban” which is the largest militant organisation in
Pakistan, operates under the larger umbrella of the Pakistani Taliban. Although Pakistan strongly
denies any military support to the Taliban, Pakistan’s ongoing activities suggest otherwise. The role
of Pakistan has always been critical to the outcome of Afghan war, the book looks at the manner in
which “Islamabad” has been “cooperating “in Washington DC’s war on terror, eyeing its own glory
and capital flow in process. We shall assess the metrics in relationship that blossomed between
U.S.A and Pakistan. “Islamabad’s core dependency on U.S. post its rise as independent nation in
1947, and its “not -so-serious” attempts to counter terror outfits via counter insurgency operations.
Also, the major bombings due to Islamic clerks’ propaganda that ultimately led to birth of numerous
brainless suicide bombers who ultimately caused major injury to the U.S.A by backstabbing it
through 9/11 terror attacks. This journey showcases the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan with the
backdrop of USSR, U.S.A and undeniably Pakistan. We shall also analyse the defeat of U.S.A in
Vietnam war and Soviet Union’s in Afghanistan. These chapters examine the consequences of an
American exit from Afghanistan leaving the people in betrayal to the mercy of Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
We shall also discuss the reductionist distortion of historic spirit and mainstream Islam in the name
of Jihad, the unholy war of killing the innocent for the tussle of power. The question now is
particularly even more important since the Taliban Al-Qaeda registered a strong support from the
Pashtun tribes and now their brethren shall entrench themselves strongly in Arabian Peninsula and
North Africa. This is definitely not less than a nightmare for the West, since these can be easily used
as launch pads to strike and destroy Israel and unabatingly impose their distorted and radicalised
version of Islam and Sharia law on the rest of the geography. In the worst come worst scenario we
can expect to see the rise of Radical Islam terror insurgents in Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Houthi
rebels of Yemen. The last one shall be a far-fetched idea though since the Shia Houthi rebels and
Sunni Islamic clerks don’t go along easily, yet brothers in arms with weapons in hand make a perfect
couplet of disaster. The lashing out of Opium wars and underworld of smuggling, illegal arms trade,
crushing the political and human rights of women with illegitimate and unaccountable killings is the
worst nightmare come true for the Afghanis. But not all seem happy about it. What we see is the
Secessionist movement in the Baluchistan region of Pakistan, giving a tough time to “Aaqas” in
Islamabad and tensions erupting across the Durand line of Pakistan is also a matter of review.

Hence the book largely contends the critical importance of Taliban nexus and Pakistan meddling in
the regime.
A BLOODY HISTORY: -THE MUGHAL, BRITSH, USSR, AND U.S.A QUADRAPULET

The sinister of crime crawls over the walls and dungeons of war inflicted Afghanistan. The people
here live in the soil that has been soaked in blood since time immemorial. “Ready to fight and die for
my country” has been the spirit of Afghanistan’s native who are born fighters.

The history of Afghanistan has seen many wars. The Afghan state even under strong rulers both in
the premodern and modern eras was like the Wizard of Oz: strong in appearance but weak in reality.
Ahmad shah Abdali or Durr-e-Durani had to depend on loot and plunder form India to sustain state
building in Afghanistan. When his successors failed in raiding India for booties, the Abdali Polity
cracked.

Powerful rulers like Amir dost Muhammad and Amir al-Rahman Khan were partly depended upon
British subsidy, which did not amount to much. Hence, their regimes faced frequent rebellions.
However, Rubin’s “Rentier State “model applies well during the 1950-80 era in Afghanistan.

Even the Hamid Karzai government in the new millennium was dependent on financial aid from
western countries.

History has been insightful in depicting that no invaders are welcome in Afghanistan. When the
British tried to intervene in the Afghanistan’s Politics, they saw a barbarous defeat. The Great Game
involved Britain’s repeated attempts to impose a puppet government in Kabul. The British wanted
Dost Mohammad to break all contact with the Iranians and Russians. Auckland, who had tried to
remove Dost Mohammad Khan and establish his own puppet king, Shah shuja, had to retreat when
the Afghan tribes emerged out from bushes to avenge the deportation of Dost Mohammad. They
went on a killing spree. The British government had witnessed the anger and cold-blooded murder
of British agents by Afghani tribes who had butchered away the British soldiers and parcelled the
mincemeat to England. The Anglo Afghan war was such a dark tragedy, that after settling the issue
with the tribes, the British vowed not to meddle in affairs of Afghanistan for ages. In fact, the
humiliation was so huge along with the money spent on the war, that Auckland was called back to
Britain and was heavily criticized for his decision. Afghanistan is not a soil to be owned. In December
1979, when the soviets invaded it the unfolding of the endgame begun.

So why did Russians invade Afghanistan under the pretext of forging a friendship deal? Well, this was
because Russians saw the emergence of People’s democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPD) who was
installed as Afghanistan’s new head of Government. But the factions of rebel fighters across the

country begin to unite as Mujahideen, a word that means, “Those engaged in jihad “in Arabic. The
groups crossed ethnic and ideological lines, but initially were defectors from the Afghan army. They
were backed by the West who often referred to them as freedom fighters. They were funded by the

United States and Pakistan. US President Carter initiated a programme to arm the Mujahideen
through Pakistan’s intelligence service. Saudi Arabia had agreed to match America’s contributions.
Funnelling money and weapons through Pakistan lead to fraud, and Pakistan chose which of the
Mujahideen factions would receive the most support, often favouring those with more
fundamentalist views.

The US introduced shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, called Stingers, which allowed the
Mujahideen to shoot down Soviet planes and helicopters. This turned the war. The Mujahideen
controlled most of the country by this point.

Militant Sunni Islamist terror group al Qaida was formed by Osama Bin Laden, Abdullah Azzam, and
other parties from the Soviet-Afghan war. Based in Pakistan, bin Laden had been a major financier of
the Mujahideen in the 80s, spending his own money and using his connections. He also trained
foreign Muslim volunteers who wished to fight.

Finally, the last soviet soldier left Afghanistan in 1989. Estimates say that around 15000 soviet
soldiers were killed. Further in Kabul, The Mujahideen, which was still receiving funding from
Washington and Islamabad, continued to fight against the Najibullah Government, which was still

being backed by Moscow. The Berlin wall fell and thus began the end of the Soviet Union.

But now began the reign of terror, after Najibullah resigned. Mujahideen factions create The Taliban
which was supported by Pakistan. They recruited members from religious students
from madrasas across the border, but nearly all of the original leadership fought in the Soviet-
Afghan War for either the Hezb-I Islam Khalis or Harakat-I Inqilab-e Islam factions of the Mujahideen.
Finally, the city of Kandahar fell to Taliban in 1996. They controlled 12 Afghan provinces. The Taliban
who controlled 80 % of the country, saw Osama bin Laden, who has been expelled from Saudi
Arabia, as their leader and he enjoyed protection in Afghanistan. But what made the Al-Qaeda attack
U.S.A in 9/11 then?

President George bush pulled away his resources from Afghanistan in effort to focus more on crisis
in Iraq.

Also, The UN resolution issued Resolution 1333, which recognised the humanitarian needs of the
Afghan people. It also condemned the use of Taliban territory for the training of “terrorists” and that
they have provided a safe haven to Osama bin Laden. Sanctions are issued. This angered Al-Qaida,
primarily Osama bin Laden. Al Qaida attacked the US and claimed the lives of 2,977 victims in the
9/11 attack
President Tony Blair announced military action against Al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan. The
US and its allies prepared to invade when the Taliban refuse to hand over Osama bin Laden. Finally,
under Barack Obama’s leadership Osama bin Laden was killed by a US special operations unit after
being tracked down living in a compound near Abbottabad, Pakistan. Post that US President Obama
announced the withdrawal of 10,000 US troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, to be
followed by a further 23,000 by the end of September 2012.Flash forward to 2021: -

Although Biden administration decided to pull out US troops from Afghanistan, the world saw the
brutal killings of 24,000 men women in desperate attempt to leave Afghanistan and Kabul falling
ultimately in the hands of Taliban. What was the reason for this? Talibanist had convinced the local
people that their version of Islamic jurisdiction is swifter and more legitimate. The latest
development that we see in Kabul is the release of 20 min drone footage by US army claiming they
had killed a terrorist Ahmadi and his probable aids as 7 children aged 4-7. What it turns out to be is
another innocent killed on weird suspicious grounds. All this had sparked rage in the local authorities
who were slowly turning towards radical Islamism for themselves. Propped by their notorious
neighbour Pakistan, Taliban could survive for 20 long years in exile. It trained, issued its own fatwas
and kept on the Jihad war against the west.

Also, the drug money involved has been instrumental. A huge amount of heroine strongly funds the
activities of Taliban. This opium possession makes the Taliban one of the wealthiest armed non state
organization in the world. The heterogenous tribe of Afghanistan didn’t like to be governed by a very
powerful west backed President who didn’t care about their economic and social needs.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: TEARS OF THE DEAD:

Afghanistan has slid into economic freefall, made worse by a prolonged drought that has left 23
million Afghans at risk of starvation. The situation is especially alarming given the onset of winter
and a lack of food, which is already forcing families to sell assets.
In December 2020, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, had already warned that an estimated 3.1
million children—half of Afghanistan’s children —were acutely malnourished. Other United Nations
reports warn that over 1 million more children could face acute malnutrition in the coming year. By
mid-2022, 97 percent of Afghans may be liners is providing cash to thousands of rural farming
families in some of the hardest-hit areas while continuing its primary education program for 17,500
children.

With millions facing famine, humanitarian-aid workers are calling for the Biden Administration to
take a radical step: release the billions in frozen Afghan government assets to humanitarian
organizations. The White House so far has responded with incremental proposals. In December, the
Treasury Department made it easier for the U.N., N.G.O.s, and individuals to send money and
supplies to Afghanistan for humanitarian assistance. In October, the U.S. also provided an additional
hundred and forty-four million dollars in aid. That is less than a small fraction of the multibillion-
dollar fund that the U.N. is seeking to avert famine in Afghanistan in 2022: its biggest ever global
appeal for a single country, larger even than for conflict-and hunger-stricken nations such as Yemen
and Somalia. According to aid workers, Taliban officials are allowing U.N. agencies to work
unimpeded in every province of the country for the first time in twenty years. They appear to have
decided that blocking humanitarian efforts could spark intense anger from Afghanistan’s population.
At the same time, the Taliban have established a repressive, autocratic state that has carried out
more than a hundred targeted killings and abductions of former Afghan officials, severely limited
girls’ education, banned women from many workplaces, silenced local journalists, and beaten
female protesters in the street with whips.  According to Amnesty International, women have been
informed that they cannot go to work or travel without a male guardian. For the last three months,
girls over the age of 12 have been prohibited from attending school, and segregation of women and
men in universities is negatively impacting women’s opportunities in post-secondary
institutions. Women have been expelled from many areas of the labour force, including the media

and entertainment fields. The government’s Ministry of Women Affairs has been replaced by a
Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and women have been expunged from the
Cabinet.

Under previous Taliban rule, the “virtue-promoting ministry” beat women for failing to cover all of
their body with clothing, including wrists and ankles, and for walking outside without a close male
relative. Women increasingly fear for their personal safety. Alleged war crimes and crimes against
humanity within the court’s jurisdiction in Afghanistan include: attacks against civil servants
including female officials; attacks on schools particularly girls’ schools; and rape and other sexual
violence against women and girls. 
According to Amnesty International, “many survivors—as well as shelter staff, lawyers, judges,
government officials, and others involved in protective services— are now at risk of violence and

death.” Earlier this month, Taliban soldiers shot and killed  the 10-year-old daughter of an Afghan
man who had worked for the Canadian Armed Forces in Kandahar, as well as an adult woman

related to the girl.

Financial Crisis and Rising Prices

A financial crisis followed the Taliban takeover on August 15, as the economy collapsed and
banking system froze. About 75 percent of the previous government’s budget came from
foreign donors, but most halted their aid to government agencies and institutions shortly
before or after the Taliban takeover. The Central Bank of Afghanistan, under Taliban control,
has been cut off from the international banking system and access to the country’s foreign
currency reserves.

Intimidation and Threats

Taliban authorities have also used intimidation to extract money, food, and services. They
enter the hospital with their guns, it’s difficult for the doctors and nurses to manage. The
Taliban and their fighters call us in the middle of the night to cure and give special treatment
to their patients and families,” a health worker said. 

MENTOR OF CHOICE: ISLAMABAD FANATICS

Taliban is Pakistan’s Protégés who are safely inhabited in the Pakistani havens and find easy
launching attacks in Afghanistan. The Taliban Afghanistan saw its rise with aid and funding of
Pakistani Military forces which merrily funded for organized terror crimes and yet kept the U.S
watchdog under darkness. In strategic statement, what Pakistan wanted out of its “cooperation”
with the United States in the latter’s war against the Taliban. Its basic goal is to keep large
infrastructure of terror to annex Kashmir, Balkanize India and set up a puppet government in Kabul. I
It can conventionally push for warfare backed by nuclear blackmail. The Pakistani establishment’s
war against Tehrik-e-Taliban had courted its wrath by challenging its military authority. The North
western Frontier Province was nonetheless an exciting challenge for Pakistan. Ahmad Shah Masood
had once said: - “For peace in Afghanistan, Pakistan must stay away”. Probably that is why we see
the faction s arising till now between the Tehrik -e-Taliban and Pakistan ISI.
Pakistan’s military extensively funds the Talibanic operations, provides diplomatic support as far as
the top Talabani leaders travel the world on Pakistani Visa. Tterrorists and insurgents are continuing
to exploit the 1,200-mile porous border that separates the two countries. Taliban in power in
Afghanistan are playing host not just to al-Qaeda, but also to many other Islamist terrorist and
insurgent groups from around the globe which are working on the aid and advice of Pakistani
military officials. After pushing out Soviet Union from the Afghan soil, US got itself stuck in the mucky
waters and had been compelled to hunt down and kill Osama Bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda leader, after
9/11 attacks, who had taken shelter in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Why has Pakistan kept the issue burning? So that the waging war shall project itself as unwinnable
by the United States and its NATO allies.

PAKISTAN: A FRIEND OR FOE: U.S.A

R. BILL ROGGIO, SENIOR EDITOR, LONG WAR JOURNAL, FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF
DEMOCRACIES said in his statement to the COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS---HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES—114TH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION that Pakistan may combat some groups that
threaten it--movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, Islamic movement in Uzbekistan, groups like that
that are fighting the Pakistani State. However, they support numerous terrorist organizations,
organizations that are listed by the U.S. Government as foreign terrorist organizations. The online
recruitment of youth to Hiab-ul -Mujahideen and poisoning of young minds to conduct terrorist
attacks in name of holy war is visible in front of the world. The groups--Lashkar-e-Tayyaba,
Harakat-ul-Mujahideen are running training camps inside Afghanistan.

The narrative that the Pakistani ISI creates is of the Good Taliban v/s Bad Taliban. The good Taliban
is any group that the Pakistani likes, and those are groups that don't attack the Pakistani State. These
are groups that carry out Pakistan's foreign policy--Haqqani Network, Afghan Taliban, Mullah Nazir
Group. And then, even the Pakistan press referred to this, groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Hiab-ul-
Mujahideen, Harakat-ul-Mujahideen--again, are considered ``good Taliban'' as well. And the bad
Taliban, are the ones that fight the Pakistani State. They are the ones being targeted in the Shawl
Valley, in North Waziristan. When the Pakistanis go after these groups, they pretend that they are
going after the Haqqani Network or the Mullah Nazir Group or the Afghan Taliban, but they are not.

The Pakistanis haven't named a single high, mid-level, or low-level leader killed in one of these
operations, because they haven't killed any of them. They haven't captured any of them, although
they are selectively targeting in the interest of the Pakistani State. Syed Shahzad was brutally
executed by the ISI for his reporting on links between Pakistan's Intelligence Service and al-Qaeda,
and attacks that were occurring within Pakistan. Ironically, Pakistan had been diverting the covert
aid of about U.S $2-3 billion to Mujaheddin for training 80,000 of the terror insurgents on the

directions of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) US during 1980s. Pakistan’s Support to the Taliban is
One of the Greatest Feats of Covert Intelligence. CIA’s covert operation called “Operation Cyclone”
involved mass scale recruitment of mujahideen fighters in the range of 1,50,000 to 1,80,000. This
entire operation cost US about $20 billion in that era. The madrasa training in Islamic schools and
arrangement of illicit arms and bazaar was done across the world. Weapons were shipped to
Pakistan and from there they were sent over land to the fighters in Afghanistan. During the Battle of
Kandahar, as a part of Taliban Spring Offensive, foreign aid officials leaving the city saw grease paper
everywhere since the Taliban removed the wrappings from packaged weapons .This automatically
clicks the idea of weapons being siphoned from ISI warehouses.  Andrew Elva of the Federation for
American Afghan Action, who had claimed before the US Senate that between 1980 and 1981 itself,
the ISI had siphoned off $700 million. But Since ISI had earned the crown of glory by pretending to
be an ally of US in mujahideen war, Washington had to be tight lipped on this issue. Despite the fact
that Pentagon had sent out major alerts and Senate had urged to stop the sanctioning of funds to
Pakistan, the gravity of the situation was never realized until recent years. It stretches credulity to
believe that the US, which spent over $1000 billion on intelligence from 2001-20, was so utterly
inept that it had no idea of Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban for over two decades. Despite of
US pressurizing Karachi to take stringent measures against Taliban, the Pakistan government
flaunted a carefree attitude. Even so, in 2016, Sartaj Aziz, the then Foreign Minister of Pakistan had
admitted of leveraging some pressure on the leadership of Taliban since, their families resided in
Pakistan, yet nothing solid occurred. In fact, US had been naïve enough to believe the hoax created
by Pakistani army of having carried out 20-month long operation to wipe out Taliban. In 2011, the
Committee on Foreign Relations of US Senate claimed that the ISI and Pakistani forces sought to
empower a hostile neighbour for India in form of Afghanistan by channelling the route of Pakistani
based terror groups and Pashtun tribes. India had repeatedly called out for Pakistan to take action
against all terrorist networks, including al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e- Taiba (Let), Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM) and Hiab-ul-Mujahideen.
FATA AND ITS TRIBAL HOLDINGS BY PAKISTAN:

After the U.S. led coalition forces attacked Al Qaeda and Taliban infrastructure in Afghanistan
beginning in October 2001, the epicentre of global terrorism moved from Afghanistan to tribal
Pakistan. Known as the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) in Pakistan, this region has
emerged as the premier hunting ground for the Al Qaeda leadership. With the co-option of new
groups in FATA and its adjacent North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), the Al Qaeda threat has
proliferated. The threat posed by the Afghan Taliban has been compounded with the addition of a
new range of actors notably the Pakistani Taliban. Working together with multiple threat groups,
both foreign and Pakistani, Al Qaeda directs its global jihad campaign from FATA. Unless the terrorist
enclave is cleared on the Afghan-Pakistan border, the threat to Afghanistan and mainland Pakistan
will continue. 

The Pakistani–Afghan border region is a 2,400-kilometer stretch of territory. On the Pakistani side,
this region comprises of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), FATA, and Baluchistan. FATA
consists of seven agencies—Bajaur, Mohamed, Orakzai, Kurram, North and South Waziristan, and
Khyber. The threat groups operating in FATA today include: Islamic Movement of the Taliban, the
erstwhile ruling regime of Afghanistan seeking to return to power; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
and its splinter Islamic Jihad Movement, groups seeking to create an Islamic state in Uzbekistan;
Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, a group from China seeking to create an Islamic State in
Western China; and Libyan Islamic Fighters Group, a group seeking to establish an Islamic state in
Libya; as well as several other groups. As FATA has become a “mini-Afghanistan” with the adoption
of the “Taliban norms,” the developments in FATA threaten regional and international security in the
foreseeable.

Al Qaeda is a militant Sunni group based in Pakistan (1988–1991), Sudan (1991–1996), Afghanistan
(1996–2002), and again Pakistan (2002-to-date). After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, the core of Al
Qaeda's leadership has moved to the “ungoverned territories” of NWFP and FATA-areas, which in
spite of being part of the Pakistani state follow a distinctive colonial era administrative and legal
system. These tribal areas do not recognize provincial or federal laws. The article argues that
increasing militancy in FATA has occurred along with the parallel development of “Talibanization” in
these tribal areas.

The norm of Talibanization is derived from the practices and principles followed by the Taliban
regime. The Taliban are one of the mujahideen insurgents.

The Taliban are mainly made up of Sunni Muslim Pashtuns (also referred to as Pathans). Pakistan's
tribal areas of FATA and the NWFP are predominantly Pashtun who identify themselves with
members of the same tribe across the border in Afghanistan. With the U.S. attack in Afghanistan and
the defeat of the Taliban, the centre of gravity of international terrorism seems to have shifted to
the FATA regions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. While the rugged terrain of the area
provides a good cover for the Afghan Taliban’s, the region is also home to the local Pakistani
“Taliban’s” who seem to be projecting the norm of “Talibanization” to reorganize old tribal socio-
political structures in the FATA region. In 1998 Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid described groups
“along the Pashtun belt” who were banning TV and videos, imposing Sharia punishments “such as
stoning and amputation in defiance of the legal system, killing Pakistani Shia and forcing people,
particularly women to adapt to the Taliban dress code and way of life.” 5 The process of local tribes
together. “Talibanization” of FATA has been effective in bringing p
Three profound developments characterize the global threat landscape after the 11 September 2001
attacks (9/11) in the United States.

First, after the U.S.-led intervention in Afghanistan, the centre of gravity for terrorism has moved
from Afghanistan to Pakistan's FATA. While Afghanistan remains a battlefield, core Al Qaeda
members, with the help of the Taliban, have created FATA as the global headquarters of like-minded
groups.

Second, following the targeted assassination of Al Qaeda's leader, Abu Musab al Zarqawi (Abu
Musab), in Iraq, the group's leadership in FATA, nominee Abu Ayyub al Masri has assumed the
leadership role of Al Qaeda in Iraq. As the United States and its Western allies are inching toward
troop withdrawal, Iraq has become Al Qaeda's central battlefield.

Third, after the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, Al Qaeda in FATA has gained a foothold in the
Middle East, establishing a forward operational base 2,290 kilometres (1,420 miles) closer to the
West. While the war in Iraq is providing inspiration and instigation to jihadists worldwide, FATA has
emerged as a key centre for planning and preparing operations to strike the United States as well as
its allies and friends.

At the heart of these developments is the leadership of Jamaat al-Qaeda al-Jihad led by Osama bin
Laden and his Egyptian deputy Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri (al-Zawahiri), who is also the principal architect
of the global jihad movement. Al-Zawahiri has assumed control of Majlis al-Shuri (consultative
council), Al Qaeda's highest decision-making body. Although its strength has depleted from 3,000 to
4,000 members during 9/11 to a few hundred members today, Al Qaeda remains resilient. Its strong
desire to prosecute spectacular attacks against Western targets is feared.
PAKISTAN: A TRAINING CENTRE FOR AFGHANISTAN TALIBAN: -

Over the year PoK has become breeding ground for terrorists operating in Al-Qaeda. Muzaffarabad
and Kotli are known epicentres of such camps and dreaded militant organization such as Lashkar – e
Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen have their operational headquarters there. The terrorist camps
are noted to be in Bhimber, Bakryal, Balakot, Chawari, Kotli, Mangla.Lashkar has 2 camps in
Muzaffarabad – Abdul-Bin-Masood and Danna. Jaish -e-Mohammad has been training its women
recruits in Balakot who are given training in guerrilla warfare and arms operation The internationally
banned militant outfit, Lashkar -e-Taiba, has been operating against India in Pakistan based camps in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan. The newly emerged players on scene of various terrorist
groups like Haqqani and Islamic State of Khorasan (ISIS-K) had been trained by Pakistani ISI. From
landmines to cartridges, machineguns, explosives and rockets were all found hidden near Pakistan-
Afghan Border.

Post imposition of FATA 2003, ISI had carefully made a peace deal that empowered the pro-Taliban
Pashtun militants in North Waziristan to cover it up from the rage of sanctions by US.

PAKISTAN -TALIBAN JOINT AGENDA ON THE TABLE:

Pakistan seemed well versed in its agenda to use its strategic locations to its advantage and lure in
US administration in name of negotiations, playing the balancing act between the Taliban and US
and hence increasing the dependence of US on Rawalpindi till 2016

Ridiculously enough, till now, Pakistan itself had played the victim card claiming to be terrorized by
neighbouring countries and has a habit of opening up the monotonous rant on Kashmir issue over
every possible global platform. But soon after the Taliban takeover with downfall of Ashraf Ghani led
Afghan government, the world saw itself dealing with the so- called Taliban 2.0 as the official
bureaucracy of Afghanistan and Pakistan sending its foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as
Taliban’s Spokesperson to negotiate with the western front. Hence, Pakistan had exposed its long-
hidden agenda right Infront of the world. U.S has already burnt its fingers in Afghanistan war for 20
long years after Soviet and now it seems that it is handing over the baton to China which seems
positively interested into creating a central route to Middle east via Kabul. The camaraderie between
China and Pakistan is well known and has been blossoming over the past years. The CPEC- China
Pakistan Economic Corridor has been the central focus of China to expand its territorial reach in
“STANS” that is, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan etc.

But what are the stakes of Pakistan in Taliban led government in Afghanistan. To say, Enormous
would be least. Because Pakistan greedily eyes the Throne of AfghanistanThe visit of Pakistan’s ISI
chief Faiz Hameed to Kabul, who had rushed their post clashes between Mullah Baradar and
Haqqani supported groups, had, officially sparked of controversies since Pakistan was internationally
accused of aiding the Taliban. Not only this but the intervention of ISI to build up the cabinet
favoring the Haqqani Network has given Taliban Leader a new blow
 DURAND LINE

The line that had been a gift by the British to the Present day Afghnistan and then Britsh ruke India
with Punjab area bordering the Khyber pakhtun-wa.Established in the Hindu Kush in 1893, it runs
through the tribal lands between Afghanistan and British India. In modern times it has marked
the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.It is a legacy of the 19th century Great Game between
the Russian and British empires in which Afghanistan was used as a buffer by the British against a
feared Russian expansionism to its east.The agreement demarcating what became known as
the Durand Line was signed between the British civil servant Sir Henry Mortimer Durand and Amir
Abdur Rahman, then the Afghan ruler in 1893.Abdur Rahman became king in 1880, two years after
the end of the Second Afghan War in which the British took control of several areas that were part of
the Afghan kingdom. His agreement with Durand demarcated the limits of his and British India’s
“spheres of influence” on the Afghan “frontier” with India.The seven-clause agreement recognised a
2,670-km line, which stretches from the border with China to Afghanistan’s border with Iran.It also
put on the British side the strategic Khyber Pass.
It is a mountain pass in the Hindu Kush, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.The pass
was for long of great commercial and strategic importance, the route by which successive invaders
entered India, and was garrisoned by the British intermittently between 1839 and 1947.The line cut
through Pashtun tribal areas, leaving villages, families, and land divided between the two “spheres
of influence”.
With independence in 1947, Pakistan inherited the Durand Line, and with it also the Pashtun
rejection of the line, and Afghanistan’s refusal to recognise it.When the Taliban seized power in
Kabul the first time, they rejected the Durand Line. They also strengthened Pashtun identity with an
Islamic radicalism to produce the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, whose terrorist attacks since 2007 left
the country shaken.

The Durand Line was drawn up by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat, to safeguard
the interests of the British Empire in 1893 to safeguard its interests in Southern
Asia .The single page Durand line agreement was signed by the King of
Afghanistan , Amir Abdur Rahman ,to establish the buffer between the two
regimes. The strategic regions of Khyber pass remains on the side of british empire
according to the document. This line had a little idea upon the ethnicity and
geography of region and ended ignorantly dividing the traditional Pashtun tribes.
This line even after 128 years has evoke enough tensions between the Pakistan
and Taliban administration. The soldiers at the border in Nangarhar province
dismantled the fence on Pakistan Afghanistan border ( Durand Line ) and days
later they had even stopped the Pakistani soldiers from mending it.Kabul claims
that British India had unilaterally imposed the line on Rahman and divided families
referring to Pashtuns, largest ethnic group of Afghanistan .No government of Kabul
whether be it Afghan government of Taliban has yet recognized the Durand line
internationally. At that time too, British had tried to bring the Pashtun areas back
under Afghanistan. The British , said that the issue could be discussed with the
successor namely Pakistan. Amongst the demand of Pashtunistan, Afghanistan
didn’t want the UN to recognize Islamabad till the matters are resolved.

Hence we see any efforts by Islamabad to legitimise the line have been shot down
by Afghanistan and they have seen multiple issues arising out f it. Recently a bomb
that had nearly killed Taliban chief was dropped by Pakistan army creating rift
amidst the two countries. The top commander Zabihullah Mujahid from Talibam
pressed that if there is peace and security in the region what is the need of border.

The Problem is not just geographical but also economical:

The Durand line puts the resource rich province of Balochistan in Pakistan ,
thereby depriving Kabul of its access to Sea.The Pashtuns are 2nd largest ethnic
community.

Pakistan has always wanted to seal up the porous borders of its own country with
Afghanistan. The fencing began in 2014 after a cross border attacks by (TTP)
which comprises of small Pashtun militant groups sympathetic to Taliban and are
fighting for Independence of Pashtunistan.

The huge h semi autonomous region has districts spread across Khyber Pakhtunwa
province the 3rd largest territory in Pakistan.

Although Islamabad says it wants to secure the borders but the main issue lies in
the secessionist movement.

Islamabad is fearfull after 1971 bangladesh war, for any more threats . By
legitimizing the borders, it can eventually maintain peace in the territory.

To Stem any threats from Pashtun nationalism , it ahs also built madrassas in
western territories . These schools emphasize Islam over the ethnic identity which
Islamabad hopes can dilute the movement for a unified territory for Pashtuns.

Things revealed soon after the Pakistan administration had directed its National
Security Advise Moeed Yusuf to discuss the Durand Line . The efforts made by
Pakistan are huge, but this issue perhaps is not going to resolve any sooner