Pakistan blackmails Taliban over the Durand Line, claims media

Islamabad/Kabul – Pakistan has warned the Taliban that if it does not respect the Durand Line, which divides Afghanistan and Pakistan, border traffic will be closed to Afghans. However, The Singapore Post claimed that the Taliban had rejected the condition put by Pakistan. There was no immediate reaction from Pakistan or the Taliban. But Taliban leader Mullah Akhundzada has reportedly warned Taliban militants to be wary of infiltrators.

In 1893, British officer Mortimer Durand demarcated the border with Afghanistan. But the current 2,670-kilometer border between Afghanistan and Pakistan divided the territory of the Pashtun people in Afghanistan. For decades, the Durand Line was not acceptable to the rulers, democratic leaders, and even terrorist organizations like the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his successor Ashraf Ghani also dismissed the Durand Line with Pakistan. Afghan leaders have also accused the Pakistani military of infiltrating Afghan territory and setting up checkpoints and fences. Taliban leaders have not openly stated their stand on the Durand Line.

But the Taliban claim that the territory from Pakistan’s Swat to Balochistan is Pakhtunistan. Also, two and a half months ago, after the Taliban captured Afghanistan, videos had emerged of Taliban militants threatening the Pakistani army stationed on the border. The Durand Line was unacceptable to us and the Taliban terrorists had threatened that Afghanistan would extend until Atak in Pakistan. The Pakistani media had expressed concerns over the Taliban threat.

In such a scenario, there are reports of Pakistan threatening Taliban leaders over the Durand Line. It is claimed that Pakistan has warned the Taliban to accept the Durand Line if cross-border traffic is kept going. It is claimed that the Taliban regime, upset over Pakistan’s blackmailing, has also refused to accept the terms regarding the Durand Line.

Neither the Pakistani government nor the Taliban has confirmed the news. As news of the Durand Line comes to light, a new hint from Taliban chief Akhundzada has also surfaced. Akhundzada warned that infiltrators had entered various Taliban groups and they could pose a threat to the Taliban. Akhundzada threatened that the leaders of the groups concerned would have to pay the price if they did not try to get the intruders out.