Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – Pakistan has approached Tajikistan with a proposal to establish a strategic partnership aimed at countering Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This initiative, if realized, could reshape the geopolitical landscape of the Afghanistan-Pakistan (Af-Pak) region. However, analysts suggest that while Tajikistan may be interested in mitigating Taliban influence, it is unlikely to pursue a formal security alliance against Kabul’s current regime.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met with General Muhammad Asim Malik, the director-general of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), on Monday to discuss regional security concerns. According to sources, the discussions focused on mechanisms to enhance coordination between the state and security apparatuses of Pakistan and Tajikistan to address challenges posed by the Taliban. The meeting followed heightened tensions between Kabul and Islamabad after recent armed confrontations.
Unlike other Central Asian nations, Tajikistan has maintained a cautious stance toward the Taliban and has yet to deepen ties with the Afghan government. While working relations are slowly taking shape, Tajikistan continues to harbor concerns about the Taliban’s influence. Islamist group Jamaat Ansarullah, which seeks to overthrow Rahmon’s government, reportedly operates from within Afghanistan. Moreover, Tajikistan’s significant Tajik population connects the two countries’ societies and politics, further complicating the dynamics.
Tajikistan also hosts the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), formerly known as the Northern Alliance. This group, which opposes the Taliban regime, has historically received backing from Russia, Iran, India, and Tajikistan. During the Taliban’s first rule from 1996 to 2001, Pakistan had opposed the Northern Alliance but now appears to be exploring ways to establish communication channels with the NRF through the ISI.
This potential collaboration underscores a shift in Pakistan’s strategic calculations in the region, as it navigates the complexities of its relationship with Afghanistan’s Taliban government and seeks allies to safeguard its regional interests.
