The Taliban is a Pashtun-led group that emerged in the 1990s in the wake of
the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The group quickly gained control of
much of the country, imposing a strict interpretation of Islamic law. The
Taliban was ousted from power in 2001 by a US-led invasion, but it has since
regrouped and regained control of the country.
A source from the Ministry of Defense of the Taliban claimed to Kauser News
that until September 2021, Pakistan had long been supporting the Taliban,
providing it with financial and logistical support. The Pakistani government
has denied these allegations, but there is evidence to suggest that it has at
least turned a blind eye to the Taliban’s activities.
The United States had been at war in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years and
spent billions of dollars in an effort to rebuild the country and defeat the
Taliban. The US had also been providing military and financial assistance to
the Afghan government.
Mullah Yaqub’s comments below suggest that the Taliban is willing to use
both soft diplomacy and military force to achieve its goals.
On a Tolo TV Station show he called for a ”preserved relationship with
Pakistan” and he has also lashed out at the US for “occupying
airspace.” It remains to be seen how the Taliban will balance these
competing interests.
The Taliban has a long history of violence against Afghans. The group has
been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians, and it has imposed
harsh and repressive rules on those under its control. It is therefore
difficult to believe that the Taliban is truly committed to the Afghan national
interest.
The situation in Afghanistan is complex and fluid, and it is difficult to
predict what the future holds. However, it is clear that the Taliban is a
powerful force that will continue to play a significant role in the country’s future.
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