https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/p ... 260228.htm
'Pakistan Treats Afghanistan As Its Province'
SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF, February 28, 2026
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After Pakistan air force jets bombed Kabul and Kandahar on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff spoke to Avinash Mohananey, a retired Intelligence Bureau officer who spent a considerable time in Pakistan on security assignments for his assessment of Pakistan's declared 'open war' against Afghanistan.
What is the reason for the sudden spurt of attacks by Pakistan on Afghanistan? What triggered it?
To understand what is happening today between Pakistan and Afghanistan, one must go back in time to 2021. In August 2021, the Americans withdrew hastily from Afghanistan after having captured the country from the Taliban in 2001.
After the humiliating departure of the Americans, the ragtag army of the Afghan Taliban took control of the entire country.
In their fight against the Americans, the Afghan national army and troops from the NATO countries, the Afghan Taliban were supported by fighters from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) of China.
After August 2021, when the Americans withdrew, the Afghan Taliban suggested to the Pakistan government to hold talks with the TTP to facilitate the return of their cadres to their homes in Pakistan.
The same offer was given to Uzbekistan in respect of Ithe MU and China in respect of the ETIM.
The Afghan Taliban added that they were ready to facilitate talks between the TTP and the Pakistan government.
The Afghan Taliban were not interested in hosting the TTP at that point of time as they had assured in the Doha agreement that they would not allow Afghan soil for terrorism against the US and its allies.
On the other hand, Pakistan was hoping that the Afghan Taliban would hand over TTP cadres and Baloch separatists based in Afghanistan to Pakistan's security agencies, reminding the Taliban of the support it had extended to them during their war against the US and its allies.
So, Pakistan has a problem with the TTP who are against the Pakistan government and the Taliban supports the TTP rather than hand their leaders over to Pakistan.
Yes, the TTP did not agree to surrender to the Pakistan government. At the behest of the Pakistan government, negotiations were held between Pakistan and the TTP facilitated by the Taliban in June 2022 along with an announcement of a cease-fire by the TTP.
Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed (who is now in the Pakistan army's custody for his alleged proximity to Imran Khan), who was then the director general of the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), and the corps commander Peshawar were the points persons from Pakistan to hold the talks.
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Gautam