Pakistan on edge as India strengthens Afghan ties First Post 30 Oct 2025

https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/pakistan-on-edge-as-india-strengthens-afghan-relations-13946418.html

Pakistan on edge as India strengthens Afghan ties First Post 30 Oct 2025

          As a follow up of the visit of the Afghan interim foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to Delhi, India upgraded its technical mission in Kabul to an embassy. India had closed its embassy in Kabul in 2021, when the Taliban took control of the country, expecting it to be a Pak dominated state. It reestablished a technical mission in Jun 2022 to monitor its aid supplies, once it emerged that Kabul will not be controlled by Islamabad.

Currently, tensions are high between the two states along the Durand Line. The MEA statement on reestablishment of the embassy read, ‘This decision (to upgrade the technical mission to embassy) underscores India’s resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Afghan side in all spheres of mutual interest.’

The recent visit to India by Muttaqi was a game changer. While in India, Muttaqi inked a joint statement accepting that India and Afghanistan are neighbours, implying POK and Gilgit Baltistan, are part of India. He also adversely commented Pakistan’s handling of the TLP (Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan) protests. Pakistan, as expected, criticized the statement and his comments, but were definitely peeved by increasing India-Afghanistan bonhomie.

          The announcement of opening of the embassy coincides with worsening Pak-Afghan ties after Pakistan launched airstrikes on multiple locations in Afghanistan, frustrated by a series of attacks by the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) on its security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This led to serious border clashes, with Pak suffering losses, its soldiers surrendering and posts captured by the Taliban. The Taliban displayed captured Pak weapons as a sign of victory.

Currently there is a ceasefire mediated by Qatar between the two sides. Attacks by Baloch freedom fighters and the TTP continue unabated on Pak security forces. Further talks to resolve the border and terrorism emanating from Afghanistan are ongoing. Pakistan leaders continue to threaten Afghanistan with an open conflict in case attacks continue.

Pakistan has been accusing India of being behind these terrorist attacks. Pak DG ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations) chief, Lt Gen Chaudhary, mentioned in a press conference, ‘Indian proxies are working in Afghanistan and using Afghan soil for terrorism.’ Shehbaz Sharief claimed that India ‘incited the Taliban.’ Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister stated in an interview that the Taliban leadership is ‘sitting in India’s lap.’ Pakistan’s defence minister has no role in managing defence other than giving media interviews, usually contradicting himself.

Accusing India by Pak is nothing new. During the US backed Karzai government, Islamabad blamed Indian consulates for funding anti-Pak groups operating from Afghan soil. India never bothers to respond, aware that Pakistan is hiding its own internal failures.

The Afghan defence minister retaliated angrily to Pakistan’s accusations. He mentioned, ‘Afghanistan has never allowed its territory to be used by another country. We are an independent nation, and our relations with India and Pakistan are guided solely by national interest.’ On the contrary he blamed Pakistan for backing the ISIK (Islamic State – Khorasan Province) which seeks to overthrow the Taliban regime.

The Taliban have never accepted the Durand Line as the border between them and Pakistan. In their view it is an artificial line splitting Pashtun tribal lands and undermining Afghan sovereignty. This has added to tensions between the two states.

Qatar was compelled to revisit its official statement issued on the ceasefire mediated by it in the Pak-Afghan conflict. The original statement had read that the ceasefire would, ‘contribute to ending tensions on the border between the two brotherly countries.’ The new statement mentioned it would reduce, ‘tensions between two brotherly countries.’ The word border was removed on the Taliban’s insistence.

As a signal of goodwill towards India reestablishing ties, the Taliban leadership began giving increased emphasis to TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline. This pipeline, once completed would be a major boost for gas hungry India. In addition, Afghanistan has invited Indian companies to invest in its mineral, agriculture, and hydroelectric sectors. Untapped minerals in Afghanistan are estimated to be worth between USD 1 to 3 trillion.

The opening of embassies, without formal recognition of the Taliban regime, is a step closer to recognition and provides legitimacy to the regime.  Afghanistan’s strategic location makes it an important connect for India’s North-South corridor commencing from the Chabahar port, bypassing Pakistan. This would open access to Central Asian markets.

Apart from ensuring that Pakistan’s anti-India proxies will not exploit Afghan soil for their actions, ties will also help counter China’s growing influence in the region. India would never desire that Afghanistan becomes a proxy state for Pakistan. There are also unconfirmed reports that India and Afghanistan are close to finalizing a defence deal under which India would re-activate air defence systems in Afghanistan. This would deny Pakistan the freedom to target Afghanistan by air.

For Pakistan, Indian presence in Afghanistan is a new challenge. It is a counter to their growing presence in Bangladesh. Asim Munir, Pakistan’s failed marshal, had recently threatened India’s North East, suggesting exploiting Bangladesh. Recently, Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza led a delegation to Bangladesh which also met their interim government chief, Mohamad Yunus in Dacca. It was claimed that the delegation visited areas close to India’s vulnerable Chicken’s Neck.

Increased presence and influence of India in Afghanistan is far more than just a counter. It places Pakistan’s troubled regions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan at risk. While India and Bangladesh do not have border issues, Pakistan and Afghanistan have. In case Pak attempts to exploit Bangladesh, India will have options.

Pakistan currently faces a host of challenges, internal and external. Its relations with its neighbours, India and Afghanistan are at their lowest ebb ever. It has been involved in limited conflicts with both. Its relations with Iran remain tense. Both have engaged in missile attacks. Internally, while the Pashtuns and Baloch are up in arms there are other protests, some violent, all aimed against the state. Simultaneously, it faces economic shortfalls.

With improved Indo-Afghan ties, Pak’s dreams of exploiting Afghanistan as a strategic depth against India ends. It can no longer consider shifting its anti-India terrorist bases into Afghanistan to save them from Indian missile and air strikes. No wonder the Pak leadership has criticized the visit. It is now convincing its people that India is backing terrorist groups operating against it from Afghan soil.

Kabul also views India as an ally which would support it against its main adversary, Pakistan. Further, New Delhi has always been the first responder in case there is any calamity in Afghanistan. Pakistan blocking movement of Indian aid to Afghanistan through their territory has further aggravated its ties with Kabul.

For both, India and Afghanistan, the old adage, ‘my enemy’s enemy is my friend,’ holds good.