Condemning In Public, Cooperating in Private Pakistan’s Credibility Crisis Times Now 02 Mar 2026

https://www.timesnownews.com/opinion/india/pakistan-afghanistan-conflict-us-backing-bagram-iran-tensions-article-153732849

Condemning In Public, Cooperating in Private? Pakistan’s Credibility Crisis Times Now 02 Mar 2026

          Pakistan attacked Afghanistan claiming it is supporting terrorist groups operating against it, including the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and the Baloch freedom fighters, operating under the umbrella of Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), despite it doing the same. Pakistan received backing from the US on its military actions implying that Pakistan is acting at the behest of the US and attempting regime change in Kabul.

The US has been seeking control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, which Trump claims was built with US funds. However, the Taliban do not appear to be playing ball. The task of changing the regime in Kabul would have been given to failed marshal Asim Munir. It is for this reason that Trump refused to intervene and stop the conflict, a first in recent times, but on the contrary defended Pakistan.

For both, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the war will have severe economic impact. Pakistan’s economy is reeling, while Afghanistan is struggling to survive. Neither can afford a prolonged conflict. A limited conflict would give no major benefit. Pakistan would be paid by the US for its actions, filling pockets of generals and top politicians while its soldiers are killed or left at the mercy of the Taliban regime.

          Both sides have been making tall claims of success but there is little which can be verified. The reality is that both sides have suffered losses. There are reports that Afghanistan is willing for dialogue but under what conditions is unknown. Dialogue is what Pakistan sought but is now delaying it, possibly because it has yet to fulfil US intent.

Kabul has denied presence of terrorist groups on its soil demanding proof, in a similar manner as Pakistan has been doing against India, and would continue to do so. Rawalpindi has assumed that if India can strike terrorist bases on its soil, it too could do a similar action against Kabul. But then there is a difference in capabilities.

India ensured zero collateral damage but Pakistan’s actions resulted in deaths of innocent civilians including women and children. Will Pakistan’s strikes stop terrorist attacks on its soil? No. India’s Operation Sindoor and earlier strikes have not stopped Pak from continuing support to terrorism and running terrorist camps. Neither will Afghanistan. Even Pakistan will not stop supporting, arming and training the anti-Taliban IS factions. The Durand Line will always be active and terrorist strikes in Pakistan’s western provinces will continue.

Further, what Pakistan has missed and Kabul has pointed out is that most terrorist groups operate from Pakistani soil, as against its claims with India where they infiltrate from across the border. This is double faced Pakistan which itself supports terrorism but accuses others of doing the same. Another misnomer being projected by a lying Pak is accusing India of collaborating with Afghanistan. In fact, Pakistan is unknowingly legitimizing Operation Sindoor.  

Another example of Pakistan playing both sides is its involvement in the ongoing Iran-US conflict. On one hand its deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar spoke to his Iranian counterpart and condemned US-Israel strikes, though it hesitated to name Washington. The foreign office quoted the conversation and mentioned that Pakistan, ‘condemns the unwarranted attacks against Iran and called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis.’

When Iran hit gulf countries, Pakistan’s PM called the Saudi Crown Prince and expressed ‘Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the dangerous regional escalation following the Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent attacks in the Gulf region.’ Interestingly, Pakistan criticized Israel for the strikes, ignoring that these were led by the US. For puppet PM Shehbaz Sharief, the US is innocent and the aggressor is Israel.  

Saudi Arabia has announced its intent to join the war. Will double faced Pakistan, which recently inked a defence agreement with Saudi Arabia also engage Iran in solidarity? No. Pakistan lacks the guts to do so. It can only sponsor terrorism and target weak nations like Afghanistan. It fears engaging Iran.

While Pak displayed innocence in US-Israel strikes on Iran and sought dialogue as a resolution, there are reports that it opened its military airstrip in Gwadar for refuelling by US’s Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) aircraft as also permitted US drones to exploit its airspace to spy on Iran. Inputs also mention that Pakistan has pushed arms and ammunition into Iran to support an uprising in the country alongside US strikes, aiming for regime change.

The nation led by its failed marshal believes that it can fool the world into believing that Pakistan supports peace in the region while illicitly backing attacks on Iran. It is also possible that Trump’s support to Pak for its invasion of Afghanistan is quid pro quo for its support to US airpower operating against Iran. Further, Pakistan would have known that the US would invade Iran, but being double faced has maintained silence and hidden the same from Iran.

While Pak secretly backs the US in its strikes on Iran, its population stands with Iran. The common Pakistani targeted the US consulate in Karachi. US marines defending the consulate along with Pak police personnel fired on unarmed protestors killing over a dozen and injuring many others. The protestors were chanting death to the US and Israel. Similar killings occurred in other parts of the country.

Iran which stood with Pak has been dumped solely for a few dollars while Afghanistan is being targeted because the US wants Pak to do so. A nation which breeds, funds and trains terrorists which target India accuses others of doing so, only because their armed forces have failed in their mission.              

This double-faced Pak would now provide its armed forces for participating in the International Stabilization Force under President Trump and operating based on the strategy of Israel, disarming Hamas, which they once supported. For this service, Pak would once again be paid by the US, which would enrich its generals and top politicians. The common man who hates both, US and Israel, while adoring Hamas and would want to protest would be subdued with violent force.