Editorial
The tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan has once again reached a critical point. What began as a dispute over cross-border terrorism by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has now evolved into a wider ideological and territorial confrontation. The Afghan Taliban, facing internal political challenges, have deliberately tied the issue to the Durand Line — transforming a security problem into a nationalist and sovereignty-driven narrative.
For the Taliban, this shift serves a domestic purpose. By projecting themselves as defenders of Afghan nationalism, they have attempted to consolidate internal legitimacy. This narrative conveniently masks their failure to control militant groups targeting Pakistan, allowing them to turn public attention toward an external adversary.
Follow Republic Policy on YouTube
In this ideological war, the Taliban seem to have gained early ground. They have reframed the debate internationally, portraying Pakistan’s counter-terrorism concerns as territorial ambitions. As a result, the issue has expanded beyond TTP militancy — it now challenges Pakistan’s sovereignty and regional stability.
Pakistan must now respond with a broader national strategy — diplomatic, ideological, and internal. Diplomatically, Islamabad should reaffirm that the Durand Line is a recognized international border and reject Kabul’s attempts to politicize it. Internally, Pakistan must reinforce national unity by integrating its own Pashtun population through equitable governance, representation, and development.
A confident and inclusive federation remains Pakistan’s strongest defence. The Taliban’s nationalist rhetoric can only lose appeal if Pakistan demonstrates, through practice, that its Pashtun citizens enjoy dignity, opportunity, and participation. This is not merely a border dispute; it is a war of narratives — and only a coherent, constitutional, and confident Pakistani narrative can prevail.
