As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Israel, a parallel information campaign appears to be unfolding in Afghanistan’s digital space. Taliban-linked platform Al-Mirsad has amplified rhetoric portraying Pakistan as the principal architect of Afghan instability, even as hashtags such as #Second_Israel trend within certain Afghan online circles. The timing is telling. Narrative construction, in geopolitics, often mirrors strategic recalibration on the ground.

At first glance, these developments may appear disconnected: India’s expanding defense cooperation with Israel on one side, and anti-Pakistan messaging emerging from Taliban-affiliated channels on the other. Yet the simultaneity raises questions about shifting alignments and evolving regional equations. Public hostility and private diplomatic maneuvering can coexist — and sometimes complement one another.

Since the return of the Taliban to power in Kabul in 2021, Afghanistan’s foreign policy posture has been characterized by ambiguity. Official rhetoric often emphasizes Islamic solidarity and resistance to Western influence. However, reports and public appearances have suggested a more nuanced reality. In August 2022, Taliban spokesman Muhammad Naeem Wardak remarked in an interview with Al Jazeera that the Taliban had “no problem” with Israel — a statement that sparked debate about........

© Eurasia Review