Relations between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan have never been on an even keel. Despite the nurturing and handholding by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the Taliban has had tense ties with Islamabad. The current impasse in the relationship over the Durand Line and Kabul’s support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has forced Pakistan to review its stand and is now attempting to corner the Afghan Taliban. The Afghan interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani’s visit to the UAE in January for talks on ties with Pakistan and the DG, ISI’s covert talks with Tajikistan demonstrate the new Pakistani approach.
While on the surface, Army Chief General Asim Munir continues to publicly call on the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting the TTP; the ISI has gone into overdrive to deepen faultlines within the Taliban while at the same working with third countries to maintain external pressure.
Sirajuddin Haqqani’s visit to the UAE was an official one, mainly for high-level meetings as Abu Dhabi is currently mediating between the Taliban and Pakistan. Haqqani was accompanied by Abdul Haq Wasiq, head of the Afghan General Department of Intelligence. Haqqani and Wasiq met with the ISI Chief Asim Malik in Abu Dhabi. His more recent travels to the UAE are possible because Abu Dhabi has formally accepted the Taliban’s Ambassador. Following the UAE visit, Haqqani went to Saudi Arabia for an Umrah pilgrimage from 23 January to 3 February 2025.
