IN its latest findings, the United Nations has charge-sheeted the Taliban regime in Kabul with acts of committing proxy terrorism inside Pakistan, including violations of women’s rights.

There can be no denying the fact that the Afghan deep state is posing multifarious challenges to South Asian regional stability. For decades, Afghanistan has been a theatre for proxy war. Needless to say, being an Indian satellite in the region, Kabul has been using the terrorist networks to destabilize Pakistan. Further, the Afghan state is deeply steeped in its internal Afghan divisions, thereby hindering a unified regional approach to stability. Given the complex dynamics of this geopolitical crisis deepened by the Taliban rogue state, there appears a collective global responsibility to prevent this crisis, tattering the political, social and economic fabric of Afghanistan—potentially undermining the South Asian security landscape.

Undeniably, for decades, Afghanistan has been a ground for “Great Games” between regional and global powers. The involvement of Afghan factions with external intelligence agencies exacerbates existing rivalries. A Kabul government perceived as too friendly to one neighbor (e.g., India) is often seen as a threat by another (e.g., Pakistan), leading to proxy conflicts and a cycle of instability. The concept of an “Afghan deep-cum-rogue state” is often used to refer to entrenched political factions, tribal networks and intelligence elements whose actions contribute to instability, primarily through covert support for insurgent groups and the pursuit of narrow, factional interests. These actors, whether remnants of past regimes or elements within the current Taliban Administration, challenge South........

© Pakistan Observer