Pakistan's Startling U-Turn: Disowning the Taliban Reveals a Dangerous Loss of Control

In a dramatic and revealing policy reversal, Pakistan has officially declared the Afghan Taliban an "illegitimate" entity, a stark departure from years of strategic ambiguity and perceived support. This astonishing declaration, made by Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, underscores Islamabad's increasingly precarious position and signals a profound loss of control over regional dynamics, particularly concerning its western border.

For decades, Pakistan's complex relationship with the Taliban has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy, often seen through the lens of 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan.

From the initial rise of the Taliban in the 1990s to their swift return to power in 2021, Pakistan has frequently been accused of tacitly supporting or at least accommodating the group. Its diplomatic efforts were often geared towards managing, rather than confronting, the Taliban's influence, leading many to believe that Pakistan harbored a degree of control or leverage over Kabul.

However, recent events have shattered this illusion.

The primary catalyst for this abrupt policy shift appears to be the relentless resurgence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that shares ideological roots with the Afghan Taliban and has intensified its cross-border attacks into Pakistan. Islamabad's hope that the Afghan Taliban, once in power, would rein in the TTP has proven to be a grave miscalculation.

Instead, the TTP has found sanctuary and operational freedom within Afghanistan, exploiting the porous border and the Afghan Taliban's reluctance, or inability, to act against them.

This growing threat from the TTP, coupled with an escalating wave of terrorism within Pakistan, has forced Islamabad to confront the bitter reality: its long-standing strategy in Afghanistan has backfired spectacularly.

The declaration of the Taliban as "illegitimate" is not merely a diplomatic statement; it is an admission of failure and a public disavowal of a policy that once aimed to secure Pakistan's interests through influence, if not direct control, over its neighbor.

The implications of this U-turn are far-reaching.

Domestically, it places immense pressure on Pakistan's security apparatus to contain the TTP threat without direct cooperation from the Afghan side, which appears increasingly hostile. Internationally, it highlights Pakistan's isolation, as its carefully crafted narrative of being a responsible regional player capable of managing the Afghan situation unravels.

It also exposes the deep cracks in the supposed ideological solidarity between the two 'Taliban' factions.

Furthermore, this move underscores Pakistan's dwindling influence in Kabul. The Afghan Taliban's firm rejection of Pakistan's demands regarding the TTP, and their defiant stance against external interference, demonstrates Islamabad's diminished sway.

The dream of 'strategic depth' has been replaced by the nightmare of an unstable, hostile border and a resurgent domestic insurgency. This policy shift is, therefore, a desperate attempt by Pakistan to reclaim agency and redefine its relationship with Afghanistan, acknowledging that its previous approach has led to a dangerous loss of control, both over its borders and its own destiny.