Chapter 2 continues…

For instance, while the Taliban wanted the ceasefire to be established before the demilitarisation of Kabul, Massoud and Dostum wanted the demilitarisation to take place first.56 Similarly, Nawaz Sharif was able to persuade Mullah Mohammad Rabbani, the president of the Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan and Burhanuddin Rabbani to initiate an intra-Afghan dialogue. The senior representatives of the two sides met in Islamabad in May 1998 to work out the modalities for an ulema conference, which would be mandated to bring the Afghan conflict to an end. However, the talks ultimately broke down.

Pakistan also did much to obstruct and eliminate any opponents of the Taliban on its own soil. The ISI instructed provincial governments of Balochistan and the NWFP not to allow any political activities of Afghans who were against the Taliban. Many anti-Taliban individuals were asked to leave Pakistan thus preventing any organised opposition to the Taliban.58 Even Hamid Karzai was given an ultimatum by the ISI to leave Afghanistan in 2001 and his father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, then head of the Popalzai tribe and a strong opponent of the Taliban, was believed to have been assassinated by the ISI. Similarly, more than a dozen prominent Afghans living in Pakistan who opposed the Taliban regime were murdered either by the ISI or by Taliban agents, against whom action was never taken.

Despite the massive support provided by Pakistan to the Taliban and its role in ensuring the movement’s military success, Pakistan never had full control over the Taliban. The Taliban had an agenda of their own and were no one’s puppet. They exercised a high degree of independence from Pakistan and constantly resisted and resented Pakistan’s attempts to pull their strings. It was possible for the Taliban to defy the ISI as they were never dependent exclusively on just one lobby within Pakistan.

The Taliban were well connected to many influential lobbies and groups such as Pakistani state institutions, political parties, provincial governments in the border areas, religious leaders and institutes, and business groups.

To be continued…