Islamabad, Oct 21 (NationPress) Pakistan is set to engage in yet another proxy conflict in its long-standing involvement in Afghanistan. Recent media reports indicate that Islamabad is preparing to permit the Afghan opposition to establish an office on its soil, which is perceived as a direct attempt to challenge the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

This situation arises amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following Islamabad's airstrikes on Afghan territory and the large-scale deportation of Afghan refugees.

Analysts suggest that Pakistan’s influential military establishment, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, is increasingly dissatisfied with the Taliban's failure to fulfill its traditional role of providing 'strategic depth' — using Afghanistan as a compliant buffer against India. Instead, the Taliban has maintained a cautious distance from Islamabad and has sought diplomatic relations with New Delhi, a move that has angered Pakistan's military leaders.

When the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan in August 2021, many in Pakistan's establishment viewed it as a 'strategic victory,' believing the Taliban would align with Islamabad's interests. However, Taliban leaders have resisted pressures from Pakistan and refused to turn Afghanistan into a client state.

In response to this defiance, Pakistan’s military seems to be reverting to its historical strategy of destabilization through proxies. Reports suggest that Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies are discreetly supporting exiled Afghan opposition leaders and contemplating the establishment of an official office on Pakistani soil. This would signify a significant escalation in Islamabad’s approach towards Kabul. Several political figures from the former Afghan republic, including members of the former Northern Alliance and the exiled National Resistance Front (NRF), have been residing in Pakistan for years.

In recent months, Pakistani officials and Afghan opposition members have reportedly convened to explore methods to invigorate the anti-Taliban movement. Observers have warned that Pakistan's strategy may lead to further chaos in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has been conducting airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, claiming to target TTP hideouts. However, most of these strikes have affected civilian areas, resulting in numerous casualties among Afghans, predominantly Pashtuns. These actions have triggered public outrage against Pakistan, prompting thousands of Afghans to express their discontent on social media. Additionally, Pakistan's treatment of Afghan refugees has further exacerbated bilateral tensions. Since 2023, Pakistan has repatriated hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, many of whom had resided there for decades.

The proposal to establish an Afghan opposition office in Pakistan would escalate this confrontation significantly. Analysts believe that Islamabad aims to foster an alternative Afghan leadership aligned with its interests. By accommodating opposition leaders, Pakistan hopes to demonstrate its ability to influence Afghanistan’s future and retaliate against the Taliban for its insubordination. However, such a move is likely to provoke backlash from Kabul and further destabilize the border regions. The Taliban has already warned that any anti-Taliban initiatives organized from Pakistan would be considered hostile actions, raising the possibility of cross-border conflicts, militant escalations, and increased instability across the region.