Taliban, Pakistan and why there’s no government in Afghanistan

The official version from Taliban last week gave a sense that infighting within the group was over and a settlement had been reached. Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah (also spelt as Hibatullah) Akhundzada was declared to be the head of the government in Afghanistan and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was touted as the executive chief of the Taliban government.

However, reports from Taliban and Pakistan confirm that infighting is far from over. In fact, it intensified within the group over the weekend as clashes broke out between factions, reports said.

CAMP WAR IN TALIBAN

In one of the clashes, Mullah Baradar is said to have been injured. The Taliban faction supporting Mullah Baradar clashed with the camp led by the Haqqani Network. This happened on late Friday night.

Reports have it that Taliban are embroiled in an intense power-struggle between Mullah Baradar and Anas Haqqani, the brother of Haqqani Network chief Sirajuddin Haqqani. Within the Taliban, Anas Haqqani is considered to be more pro-Pakistan than Mullah Baradar.

'NEUTRAL' PAKISTAN ACTIVE IN TALIBAN

The clash prompted Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt General Faiz Hameed to rush to Kabul on Saturday. The quick response from Pakistan unmasked its ‘neutral’ role in Taliban’s affairs in Afghanistan. Pakistan is now officially the trouble-shooter within the Taliban.

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Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, ahead of Hameed’s Kabul visit, met UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in Islamabad to discuss the Taliban situation in Afghanistan. Bajwa is reported to have said that Pakistan would work for the formation of an ‘inclusive’ Taliban government in Afghanistan.

The Taliban are not a unitary outfit. Different factions have their own band of loyal fighters. The prominent among them right now in the power-struggle are the factions led by Mullah Baradar, the Haqqani Network, and what is usually called the Northern Taliban. Then, there is the Quetta Shura, which functions as the Taliban headquarters in Pakistan. But it is not necessary for different Taliban factions to follow the diktat of the Quetta Shura.

TALIBAN'S POWER DEALS

The Taliban’s swift sweep of Afghanistan in the run up to final withdrawal by the US came more on the back of political dealings than armed clashes. Mullah Baradar and Northern Taliban are said to have played key roles in those political dealings within Afghanistan.

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This explains why the Taliban were reportedly divided over having a negotiated settlement with the Resistance Force led by tribal warlord Ahmad Massoud and former Afghanistan Vice-President Amrullah Saleh in the Panjshir Valley. While some factions supported negotiations, pro-Pakistan camps within the Taliban gunned for military takeover.

PAKISTAN FIGHTS FOR TALIBAN, LITERALLY

Now, reports say Pakistani forces have launched drone strikes on the Resistance Force in the Panjshir Valley inflicting heavy losses on the forces of Massoud and Saleh.

Following the reported drone attacks, Massoud made a fresh offer for talks whereas the Taliban claimed they “have conquered” Panjshir completely. The claim was denied by the Resistance Force.

MANAGING TALIBAN, THEN AND NOW

Pakistan has been micromanaging various factions of the Taliban. It appeared to be an easy task for Pakistan before the question of government formation arose within the Taliban.

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As the Haqqanis and some other factions opposed to the idea of Haibatullah Akhundzada-Mullah Baradar government of the Taliban, Pakistan found itself in a quandary.

On his arrival in Kabul, Hameed told journalists, “Don’t worry, everything will be okay.” This was another indication of Pakistan’s relationship with the Taliban.

TALIBAN INSIDE PAKISTAN: ROLE REVERSAL

However, the Northern Taliban faction is said to have considerable influence over Taliban elements in Pakistan leaving the leadership worried if the infighting within the Taliban is not contained soon.

As Pakistan launched drone strikes in Panjshir on Sunday, a suicide bomber of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — officially unrelated to the Taliban —blew himself up Baluchistan targeting security personnel. At least four security persons died and 20 others injured in the attack.

This showcases Pakistan’s own woes if the Taliban question is not settled to its satisfaction. The reason is a number of TTP members are sheltered in Afghanistan. Till now, the dominant issue what shelter given to Taliban leaders by Pakistan on its soil.

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