In a sharp escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan has accused “Indian proxies” operating from Afghanistan of orchestrating recent terror attacks within its territory. The allegations came just as Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, signaling a new phase in diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and the Taliban regime. The coincidence of these events has fueled speculation and unease across South Asia, where the balance of influence in post-US Afghanistan remains a contentious geopolitical issue.
Pakistan’s Allegations and Security Concerns
Speaking in Islamabad, senior Pakistani officials claimed that terror groups responsible for attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had received support and shelter from “Indian-backed elements” operating across the border in Afghanistan. The statement alleged that India was “using Afghan soil to destabilize Pakistan” — a charge New Delhi has consistently denied as baseless and politically motivated.
The Pakistani establishment, already grappling with a resurgence of militant activity, including strikes claimed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), appears increasingly frustrated with the Taliban’s inability — or unwillingness — to curb these groups. Islamabad’s latest accusation comes amid rising internal pressures, as its own security forces face mounting casualties and public discontent over deteriorating law and order in the border regions.
India-Taliban Meeting Raises Eyebrows
The timing of the blame game coincided with a rare and closely watched meeting between Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, held in a third-country setting. The meeting marks one of the most visible diplomatic engagements between India and the Taliban since the group’s return to power in 2021.
Reports suggest that discussions centered on regional stability, counterterrorism, trade, and humanitarian cooperation, particularly focusing on India’s ongoing infrastructure and development projects in Afghanistan. India, which had previously maintained a cautious distance from the Taliban government, appears to be recalibrating its strategy to secure its interests and counter growing Chinese and Pakistani influence in Kabul.
Islamabad’s Diplomatic Anxiety
For Pakistan, the optics of Muttaqi engaging with India’s top diplomat carry uncomfortable implications. Islamabad had long positioned itself as the primary interlocutor and patron of the Taliban, hoping to leverage that influence to ensure a friendly regime in Kabul. However, relations have soured as the Taliban government has refused to rein in TTP militants who continue to target Pakistani forces.
By accusing India of backing terrorist activity, Pakistan appears to be shifting blame away from its frayed ties with Kabul and reinforcing its narrative that New Delhi seeks to “encircle” it through both Afghanistan and regional partnerships such as the India–Iran–Central Asia trade corridor.
India’s Calculated Diplomacy
India, for its part, has consistently rejected Pakistan’s allegations as “false propaganda” designed to distract from its internal failures. Indian officials have maintained that New Delhi’s engagement with Afghanistan is guided by humanitarian and developmental objectives, not geopolitical maneuvering.
Since reopening a limited diplomatic presence in Kabul in 2022, India has supplied wheat, medical aid, and educational assistance to Afghanistan, focusing on rebuilding goodwill among the Afghan people rather than legitimizing the Taliban regime outright.
The meeting between Muttaqi and Jaishankar thus signals a pragmatic shift — an acknowledgment that Afghanistan remains a critical node in regional stability, energy connectivity, and counterterrorism efforts.
The Broader Geopolitical Context
The episode underscores the complex web of alliances and rivalries shaping South Asian politics in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. China has deepened its outreach to both Pakistan and the Taliban, pursuing security and infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Iran has simultaneously expanded economic cooperation with Afghanistan, while Russia maintains discreet intelligence links.
In this crowded arena, India’s cautious engagement with the Taliban is viewed as a strategic counterbalance to Pakistan’s waning influence — a move that Islamabad views with suspicion and alarm.
The Taliban’s Delicate Position
Caught in the middle of this regional tug-of-war, the Taliban finds itself balancing multiple power centers. While publicly calling for neutrality and mutual respect among neighboring states, the group’s inability to prevent cross-border militant operations has strained its credibility. Kabul’s leaders have repeatedly denied harboring anti-Pakistan elements but have also bristled at Islamabad’s cross-border strikes and political pressure.
Muttaqi’s outreach to India may therefore represent an assertion of Afghan sovereignty — a message that the Taliban will not remain confined to Pakistan’s strategic orbit.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s accusation of “Indian proxies” behind terror attacks reflects a broader pattern of blame and mistrust that has long defined the subcontinent’s geopolitics. As India and the Taliban cautiously reopen channels of communication, Islamabad fears losing its historical leverage in Afghanistan — even as it battles a resurgent domestic insurgency.
The simultaneous developments highlight a critical inflection point: the realignment of regional diplomacy in South Asia. Whether this leads to greater cooperation or deeper divisions will depend on how India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan navigate the intertwined challenges of security, sovereignty, and strategic influence in the months ahead.
